Heart of a Lady (Book One of the Red River Valley Brides)

by Hestand, Rita

  He knew he'd been rough on Morey today. But he couldn't have him taking off every chance he got. Morey had to learn to respect something in life. He wouldn't trust Morey yet.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  The next day, Morey rode with Cole. The horse felt the burden and was a little slower in traveling. But it was better for Morey than walking and he quit griping for a while.

  Harry stopped for a break, to rest the horses and water them by a stream.. "You'll have to both walk your horse after a while, so he doesn't get too tired, Cole." Harry instructed.

  Cole was quiet most of the morning, and Harry kept looking at him. "Something wrong with you?" he asked.

  Cole hollered at Harry to wait up. Harry stopped and let Cole's horse catch up to him.

  "Don't suppose I could stop off and see my sister, do ya? I mean one last time. Let her know I'm going to trial and all."

  Harry considered the question for a long moment. It wasn't something most lawmen did, but he never went completely by the book. He reasoned that people should be treated as he wanted to be treated, with fairness and consideration. "We can do that, I suppose. It means another night on the trail, but I'm not opposed to a good home-cooked meal and you letting her know about the trial."

  "You mean it?" Cole asked, sounding confused.

  "Why not. I'm as tired as anyone else, and a good meal would do us wonders. Besides, it will probably be your last time to have any time with her. Sounds good actually."

  "Thanks, sheriff, you are uncommonly kind." Cole stared at Harry in disbelief.

  "You look a little surprised Cole?"

  "I didn't figure on you letting us stop off."

  "Cole, I've got what I want. I got the three of you in custody. I got the money to return, and there's been very little bloodshed. That's all I was interested in. Stopping at your sisters will give us all time to rest and get a good meal. I am all for that, too. Besides, family is important."

  "Yeah, I guess you are right."

  Harry nodded. Mae's place was only a few miles out of the way, and he would feel as though he'd done a good deed for Cole. Not that Cole deserved it, but he had gotten the money for him and that counted for something.

  Mae was cooking supper when they knocked on the door.

  "Land sakes, what are you all doing here?" she asked, grabbing her chest.

  "I got the boys, Mae. I’m taking them in. Cole wanted to stop off and tell you," Harry explained.

  "Well, I'll swan. Now ain't that somethin'. Well come on in, boys. Make yourself comfortable." Mae grabbed her chest again, the look on her face perplexed. "So he is takin' you to trial then, Cole?"

  "Yep, thought we'd have a bite of supper, rest up, and get on in to town tomorrow maybe. Don't know when the trial will be, but you can check with Harry here for the details," Cole explained as though he wasn't bothered a bit about going to jail.

  "You didn't have to shoot them?" Mae exclaimed.

  "No, well, yeah, Danny here has a busted hand." Harry still felt bad about that, but the kid had shot at him first. "Think you could put a fresh bandage on it, and maybe doctor it a bit?"

  "Sure I will. Let me take a look at that, son." Mae took his hand.

  Infection had set in, and the hand was swollen. It was red and oozing.

  "I got just the thing for the infection too. I'll take care of you, boy, don't fret. It's gonna hurt when I pour it on, but you'll feel better by tomorrow."

  Danny smiled at Mae. "Thank you, ma'am."

  "How in the world did you get the upper hand on them, sheriff?"

  Harry took his hat off and stretched his long legs under the table. "I slipped up on them. That's why I didn't want Dillon with me."

  Mae nodded. "You are a smart one."

  "Did you tell him where to find us, Mae?" Morey demanded.

  "I pointed him in the direction, but I did give you a good head start, Morey. You shouldn't ought to have robbed that bank. Besides, you shot up that deputy and scared the girl. Shame on you. You all sit down here and rest. Supper will be ready soon. I'll doctor your hand now, kid."

  Danny was brave, only wincing when she poured the medicine on it. She proceeded to bandage it up again, and in a few minutes.

  She looked at him and smiled. "What's your face so red fer?"

  "My hands on fire…" He barely breathed.

  "Not for long, and don't fret, it will heal now."

  Harry could tell Mae was pleased he had brought them by. After putting the potatoes on to cook, and turning the meat, she joined them at the table once more. She might have missed the trial if they hadn't stopped to tell her about it. The way Harry saw it, everyone deserved to have someone there at the trial. He wondered if Danny would have anyone, or even Morey.

  "I thank you for bringin' Cole by one last time. He's my only brother, you know. So when do you expect the trial to start? I'll want to be there."

  "Usually takes the travelin' judge a couple of three weeks to get there. If he comes sooner, I'll send word to you by one of my deputies."

  "That would be nice, thank you." Mae smiled. "I so seldom get into town now, Hinny took my only horse, and that ole mule, he'd barely make the trip."

  Mae made a huge supper of chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn on the cob, fried okra, and cornbread. She had homemade canned pickles and deviled eggs too. The boys ate hearty. After dinner, she fixed them all beds and let them wash up a bit.

  As they sat by the fire that night, she thanked Harry again. He saw the tears in her eyes and he wished he could bring her more cheery news, but at least she got to see Cole again. "I'm obliged, sheriff. You didn't have to take the time to stop off. And I'm glad to know they didn't get shot up either. I didn't know you were so good about collecting outlaws." She looked at her brother.

  Cole seemed content being here this time. He glanced around the place then put his arm around his sister. "If I don't get hanged, I'll be back here one day and we'll fix this place up. What do you think of that?"

  She studied the fire a long time before replying, and Harry noticed the tear she held in her eye and the huskiness of her voice when she spoke. "I think that's a right nice idea, Cole. I do."

  "Good. Sheriff says we'll probably get a few years, but he don't think they'll hang us."

  "You really don't?" Mae asked.

  "Not unless the circuit judge is a hanging judge. It will take him about two weeks to get out this way, so plan on coming into town to find out. I don't have no control over who they send for each trial. But unless they get a mean-hearted one, I think the boys will all do time… and that's all."

  "This is something, Cole. Take note of it. He could have just shot you all three. You see how lucky you are?"

  Cole nodded. "I do, Mae."

  Harry excused himself after they talked for a while and gave her and Cole time to say their goodbyes. Cole had relaxed, and Harry didn't expect any more trouble out of him.

  Morey was gonna sleep in the same room with Harry so he could keep an eye on him. Harry knew Cole wouldn't leave, and something touched his heart about Mae and Cole settling out their plans. Mae was right. Cole must have been a good man at one time.

  There was no reason everything had to work out for the worse though. As long as he could keep Dillon under control.

  Now that Dillon was pretty sure about Morey, he might try something once they were in jail. Harry would deal with that when the time came. He had enough to worry about now.

  The next morning, Mae was up early and fixed them a huge pan of bacon, eggs, gravy, and biscuits with homemade wild plum jelly.

  Cole ate three helpings, and Morey loaded his plate full a couple of times. Danny had a plate, and so did Harry.

  When it was time to go, Mae kissed Cole on the cheek. "Now you behave, and look presentable for that judge. Maybe you will be back here before long. I'll be at the trial. I promise."

  "Thanks, Mae. Be seein' you." He sounded a little choked up.

  Mae followed them outside and saw th
e saddlebags full of money. "You mean they gave it back?"

  "Yep, they did. That might just keep them from hanging too."

  "Does my heart good to know it. Well, y'all take care. See ya at the trial, Cole," she hollered as they rode out of the yard.

  She had loaned them a horse from one of her neighbors, so Morey could ride. The trip wouldn't take long now.

  Harry was anxious to get home and get them in jail. He'd have a lot of reports to make, and he needed to wire the circuit judge too.

  He briefly wondered how Jo Ella was doing, and if Dillon had won her over to his way of thinking. He decided he probably had little chance with Jo Ella by now, but he'd always be her friend. He held little hope of winning her hand in marriage. How could he since he'd never asked her? He never told her how he felt about her. He hadn't played his hand right.

  Would she consider putting up with a lawman? Would she have the kind of guts to stick it out with him?

  Funny, but for a few seconds, he imagined being married to Jo Ella and having a houseful of kids crowding around his knee at night. It was a beautiful picture.

  A million questions rambled in his head.

  Vada came into view, and they stopped to look down upon the town. People were going about their daily routines, and it looked almost peaceful from the top of the hill.

  "Well, we made it without anyone getting killed." Harry smiled.

  Cole grinned. "We did, didn't we?"

  Danny smiled shyly.

  But Morey wasn't pleased at all. Harry could already imagine how he was planning an escape. Getting them here wasn't half as hard as keeping Morey alive until trial, and Harry knew it.

  As they rode into town, the people started gathering about them.

  "You got 'em?" some of them hollered.

  "He's got 'em, and they are alive," another said.

  "I'm so glad…" came a voice that warmed his insides. Smiling, Jo Ella walked up to him and kissed him on the cheek. "You are quite the hero, you know?" she whispered.

  Everyone smiled and teased Harry. There were murmurings and giggles everywhere.

  Harry was stunned. He hadn't expected Jo Ella to be around. He hadn't expected her to kiss him and be so happy for him either.

  "Welcome home, sheriff." Jo Ella smiled.

  "Thanks," he responded shyly. "I better get them settled into their new home. Would someone notify Saul and let him know I have his money?"

  "I'll do 'er," someone called from the crowd.

  Several of the men followed him into the jailhouse. When they found out he had brought back the money though, a shout of hurray's went up.

  Boy was he glad to be home.

  As the office cleared of people, he locked them up. He put them all in the holding cell at the end, it was bigger and could accommodate all of them at once. Danny looked a little baffled by it all. "How's the hand, son?"

  "Mae fixed it up pretty good. It feels better. Whatever it was that stung so bad did some good, I reckon."

  "You got folks that might want to visit?"

  "I doubt it." He hung his head.

  "I'll send the doc over to look at you, directly," Harry told him.

  "Thanks. For everything."

  Harry nodded and smiled.

  "How long before the trial?" Morey asked.

  "About two weeks, I reckon. Takes that long to get the judge here. You anxious, Morey?"

  "No-no, of course not." Morey eyed the bars and back door, obviously trying already to figure an escape route.

  It wouldn't happen. If he had to sit on Morey those two weeks, he would.

  One of the city officials came in with the banker. "You really got the money back? All of it?"

  "That's right, Saul. All of it. You can put it back in the vault and count your lucky stars." Harry handed the bank bags to him.

  "I can't believe it. You brought them back alive, and with the money. I never figured on this." The man shook his head. "I didn't vote for you last time, but I will next. I surely will."

  "They didn't put up a struggle. I managed to surprise them. Besides, it's my job."

  "And you do it well."

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Harry stayed at the jailhouse. That same evening, Ma came by, dressed in calico with a shawl draped around her. The night air tended to be chilly.

  Harry hugged her for a minute.

  "I couldn't believe it when Jo Ella told me about what you did. I'm proud as a peacock of you."

  Harry smiled and pulled her close for a hug. "Thanks. Everything went pretty good."

  They talked for a long while before Ma spoke about the happenings about town. "Cora's husband run off with a saloon gal. Jeb shot his foot nearly clean off while cleanin' his gun. He's getting' old. Too old fer guns. And well, I guess I better tell you about Dillon."

  Harry glanced at her now, watching her facial expressions and almost afraid to hear what she had to say.

  "He's been comin' regular like to call on Jo Ella. But before that, he visited her on the porch while she took a bath. She was very upset with him then. He won't leave her alone. He thinks he's gonna win her over. I'm not so sure," Ma said quietly, not looking at her son.

  "While she was bathing?" Harry wrestled with that picture for a long bit, Dillon watching Jo Ella bathing. "My God, he's got better sense than that."

  "He wants her pretty bad."

  "I guess he does. Come on, Ma, sit down." He offered her his best chair.

  "Yeah, he told her he wants her and if he has to marry her to get her, he will. Jo Ella tries her best to discourage him. But you know Dillon, he's a charmer."

  "Yeah, I know Dillon. That isn't my biggest worry though. I mean. I got a few feelings for Jo Ella myself, but I can't worry about it right now. I've got to keep that gun-happy charmer away from Morey."

  Harry drug up a chair by the cells and sat beside Ma.

  "Did Morey kill his pa?"

  "Yeah."

  "I'm glad it wasn't Cole." His Ma said. "Mae is such a sweet lady, it would kill her if he was to kill someone."

  "Yeah, I know. My biggest worry is Dillon and this bunch. I’m not sure if he knows which one of them killed his pa, but if he doesn't, he'll probably find out soon. I gotta keep my prisoner alive until trial time at least. I've invested this much time and trouble into getting them back. I won't have Dillon killing them now. And he let me know he aims to do something about it."

  "Now, you've got deputies, and you can call on me fer help to spell ya some. I know how to use a shotgun. I can stand watch here if you need me."

  Ma was sitting in his office chair and every now and then she would glance at the jail cell.

  Harry nodded. "Yeah, I'll remember that. And hey, next time Jo Ella decides to take a late bath, let me know."

  "What you gonna do?"

  "I'm going to guard the place so Dillon doesn't disturb her. She came here to find a husband, not a peeking Tom. I want to give her the chance to make a good life. I gotta a gut feeling that maybe she didn't have it so easy before."

  "I had that same feeling. She's so tough. As though she's been through more than she should have had to." Ma looked at him sharply. "Cain't put my finger on it, but there's something different about those girls."

  Harry nodded. "As long as they are in Vada, I'll do my best to keep them all safe and respected. As far as I'm concerned, they are all ladies and perspective brides. It's my job to see them safe."

  "Jo Ella is sweet on you too, you know."

  "Is she?" Harry seemed surprised, as his eyes widened and he glanced at his mother as he spoke. "I don't know why. I haven't said much to her."

  "Maybe you should," Ma encouraged.

  "What kind of life can I offer her? She wants to settle down, make a family, have a good life. My life is full of hunting outlaws, showdowns, and handling difficult situations. What kind of security could I offer her, Ma?"

  "Your love, darlin'. That's all any girl ever wants." Ma hugged him as she stood up.

&nb
sp; "You know Dillon. He'll have her eating out of his hand. He knows what to say and when to say it."

  "Do you love her?"

  Harry studied that question a long time. "I'm pretty sure I do. Sometimes, when I see her, I can't hardly talk I'm so shook up just looking at her. Me, a sheriff, shook up over a woman."

  "Then don't let Dillon charm her away." She wagged her finger at him.

  "She may already be in love with him. I'm sure coming home with him was full of kisses and hot promises. He's spent some time really courting her. All I've done is take her on a picnic. I didn't even invite her to the dance."

  "That was a big mistake, but if she really loves you, she'll look over it. You have to tell her how you feel, son. A woman doesn't know how to react unless she knows where she stands."

  "Never been good at that, either," he said softly.

  "Well, I'll pray for the right words to come to you. I will."

  Harry smiled. "Thanks. I gotta do some paperwork now and remind myself to telegraph the judge."

  Ma glanced at the reclining men in the cells. "How do you think it will come out?"

  Harry looked over his shoulder at them. "Depends a lot on the judge, but I'll speak up for them as I got the money back, and Danny, he didn't do anything but hold the horses, so I think they'll go light on him."

  "That's good. He's still young. I'd hate to think he'd go off for a long time. He don't have no folks who care about him. It's not a wonder that he turned to bad men. Maybe if he gets out, I could put him to work. Nothing like good hard work to keep a boy from messing his life up."

  "Sounds like a good idea. We stopped off at Mae's place on the way in." Harry almost forgot to tell her.

  "You did! Land sakes, how is Mae?"

  "She's doing fine. She cooked us up a big meal both last night and this morning. Her and Cole talked it over, and if he can get out, he's comin' home to help her with the place. This trip, it kind of changed him, Ma."