Shrugging, Luke said, “I didn’t want people to think I was crazy, refusing so much money. They already thought that, and I didn’t want to hear any more. In my mind, doing something with that money meant that I accepted what happened to Diana, and I couldn’t do that.”
“What’ll you do with the money now?” Will asked.
Luke hadn’t thought that far ahead. Only that the money could be used to save Nellie’s life. But if it wasn’t needed for that purpose, then what would he do with it?
“I suppose I’ll see what Nellie wants. She’s right that we’ve had too many secrets between us, and maybe figuring out the best way to handle the money would be a good way to start fresh.”
Will made an approving sound. “She’s a special woman, that Nellie. I know you said some nice things in there to her, things a woman likes to hear. Be sure you follow through and live it out.”
Will pulled a strip of peeling paint off the railing. “I hope that starting fresh also means giving her a decent home. You did your best with this one, using what little means you had. Nellie’s a good enough woman to make the best of it, but she’s right about Diana. If you’re sincere about your feelings for Nellie, then it’s time to finish burying your first wife, and give your whole heart to your second.”
Luke took a deep breath. He hardly knew this man, who so freely seemed to be passing judgment. He meant well, which was why Luke had allowed him to continue. And it was in protection of Nellie, for which Luke could find no fault.
“You don’t know what it’s like to lose a beloved wife,” Luke told him.
Will nodded. “You’re right, I don’t. But if God sees fit to bring another wonderful woman into your life, then don’t you think you should be thanking Him and counting your blessings rather than continuing to wish for what you can never get back?”
Will’s words echoed what Seamus, Pastor Lassiter and Owen had all told him. They spoke wisely, but none of them seemed to understand that Luke was doing his best.
“I’m trying.” Luke gestured at the door. “Didn’t I just tell her that in there?”
“Actions speak louder than words.”
One of Will’s men came running up to them.
“Will! There’s a robbery in progress at the Jackson Bank. They’ve got hostages.”
Before Will could respond, gunshots rang out from the direction of the bank, which was only a couple of blocks away.
Will turned to Luke. “I hate to ask, but do you mind running to the sheriff’s office and letting them know what’s happening? I’d like to take my men and get to the bank to see what we can do about the situation before it gets worse. Since it’s in the opposite direction, I don’t want to waste any time.”
“Absolutely.” Luke took a step off the porch, then stopped. “What about Nellie and the children?”
“Seamus is watching the back door. He’s helped me out a couple of times on other cases, so I know he can handle whatever comes his way. Owen will remain out front. If you don’t go to the sheriff, then I’ll have to ask one of them to do it, and I suspect they’re better with a gun than you are.”
Though Luke knew the other man was right, he hated leaving Nellie and the children. But it would take him only a few minutes to get to the sheriff’s office and back, so he wouldn’t be gone long.
“All right,” Luke said as Will turned and followed the man down the steps.
Will stopped to say something to Owen, then he ran down the street, faster than Luke would have imagined a man could run. But as he heard more shots, Luke was grateful a man like Will was on the job.
Nellie opened the door. “What’s going on?”
“Robbery at Jackson’s Bank. Stay inside. I’m going to get the sheriff, but you have Owen out front and Seamus in the back. I won’t be gone long.” Luke looked at her, wishing he could tell her something to make her realize just how much he cared about her. Though Diana hadn’t been shot, something about hearing the gunshots had him thinking again about how precious life was.
“Be safe,” Nellie said, giving him a tender glance. “We’ll see you soon.”
Something about her expression gave Luke hope. She had feelings for him, even if she was still sorting them out. And though now was not the time to discuss them, once this was all over, they’d find a way to make their marriage work.
Chapter Sixteen
Since hearing the gunshots, everything seemed eerily quiet. Though they lived in a better part of town, it wasn’t uncommon for drunken miners and other miscreants to cause trouble with their guns now and again. But something about the situation felt off.
Nellie peered out the curtains of their front window. Owen was across the street, standing in the shadows as he kept watch. Myrna had gone home for a few minutes because Ellen was feeling poorly, but Nellie had heard her chat briefly with Seamus as she left.
Hopefully Luke would return soon, then perhaps things would feel normal again.
Her lips tingled, and Nellie pressed her fingertips to them. Could things feel normal after that kiss?
Amos came down the ladder, holding some mistletoe. “Look what Myrna brought us! Ours got destroyed by the bad man, and since she knew how much I love mistletoe, she brought me some.”
“That’s lovely.” Nellie turned to the little boy and smiled at him. “Why don’t I help you hang it somewhere where it will stay safe?”
Amos looked at her suspiciously. “I thought you said the bad man wasn’t coming back.”
“He’s not.”
“Then why do we need to keep my mistletoe safe?” The little boy looked at her so innocently that Nellie gathered him in her arms.
“I didn’t mean it that way,” Nellie said. “I just remember that ours was getting tattered from holding it all the time, so I thought we could hang this one to keep it fresher.”
Amos appeared to be deep in thought for a moment. “But I want Papa to kiss you again so I can see it this time.”
“How do you know about that?”
“Ruby saw.” Amos grinned. “She was coming downstairs to get some more thread for the present Myrna helped us make, and she said Papa was kissing you just like he used to kiss Mama. So now I want to see it. Because then I will know that you will be our new mama forever, and never go away.”
There were so many reasons for Nellie’s heart to ache at this sweet child’s words. How was she supposed to explain to him that she might have to go away? And that Luke’s kiss might not have meant what Ruby and Amos thought it had?
“So touching.” Big Jim’s voice came from the back door. “Sounds like you have quite the cozy family here.”
Nellie pushed Amos behind her skirts. “What do you want? You said I had until Christmas.”
Big Jim gave her a nasty grin. “That was until you got the law poking around in my private affairs. Now I find that my trusted associates are a little spooked on account of not wanting the law in their business.”
“There’s a deputy right outside,” Nellie said, looking over her shoulder. Could she signal Owen without drawing Big Jim’s ire?
“You don’t think I’m that stupid, do you?” Big Jim laughed. “The dummy you had out back is taking a little nap in the outhouse. And the do-gooder you had out front is a little busy.”
Nellie’s gut wrenched. This was why she didn’t want to do things Will’s way. She’d warned him that Big Jim was smart.
“What did you do to them?” Hopefully she could keep him talking long enough for Luke to return and get help.
Big Jim made a noise. “I didn’t kill them, if that’s what you’re asking. Too many lawmen around this place. Much easier to get away if no one is killed.”
He looked in Amos’s direction. “Which is why you’ll do what I say. I know you’d just hate for anything to happen to that sweet lit
tle boy.” Big Jim glanced around the room. “Where are the girls? The big one’s almost old enough to come work for me.”
Nellie closed her eyes. They’d been in her room, looking at buttons for something they were making for Amos. She sent a silent prayer that Ruby would know to keep Maeve in there, away from harm.
“You leave them out of this.”
He grinned again. “So you will come with me. I do like it when you cooperate.”
“Why do you want me so bad?” Nellie stared at him. “I told you, we have no money. Surely you’ve asked around and know that I’m telling the truth.”
“Yes. But I also know you have a lot of rich friends, and I’m sure they’ll be willing to help your husband pay to get you back.”
His words made Nellie feel even sicker. She’d worked so hard to build a life and make friends, and Big Jim was using that against her.
Nellie shook her head. “Will says that they discourage anyone from paying ransom.”
The expression on Big Jim’s face only made her stomach ache worse. “I’m not worried about Will Lawson. There’s a bullet with his name on it, and he’s walking right into it. Do you know how many people in this town hate him? Truly hate him?”
“No.” The ache in her stomach moved to her throat as Nellie stared at him. “Everyone loves Will. He’s well respected and has many friends.”
Big Jim shrugged. “On your side of the law, maybe. But you put enough men in jail, and you find yourself with a lot of enemies. When you’re in a saloon, chatting up the fellows, trying to see what your odds are against a certain lawman, you learn things. There are lots of men with scores to settle, and tonight’s the reckoning. They get what they want, I get what I want, and everyone’s happy.”
“But I’m not!”
Nellie turned just in time to see Ruby pick up the pot of soup that had been simmering on the stove and smash it against the back of Big Jim’s head. By the expression on his face, he hadn’t seen it coming. His eyes widened, and he fell to the floor with a crash.
“Ruby!” Nellie stared at her, then looked down at the man on the ground, who had blood gushing from his head. It looked like he was still breathing, though.
The back door opened, and Luke ran in, breathless, holding Seamus’s rifle.
“What’s going on in here? I found Seamus—” He stopped when he saw Big Jim’s body on the floor.
“Get out, all of you. Run to Myrna’s and lock the door behind you. Stay there until I come for you.”
Nellie shoved Amos in the direction of the door, then ran over to Maeve and picked her up. She took Ruby by the hand. “Come on, let’s go.”
She paused at the door and stared at Luke. “What about you?”
His gaze didn’t leave Big Jim. “I’m staying here to make sure he doesn’t leave until the law arrives.”
“But he’s dangerous. You don’t know what he’s capable of.”
Luke didn’t look at her. “And you don’t know what I’m capable of when someone comes into my house and threatens my family. Now go.”
As Nellie ran across the alley to the Fitzgeralds’, pulling the children along with her, she prayed Luke would be safe. She shouldn’t have left him, but she had to protect the children.
Myrna already had the back door open when Nellie crossed their yard. “Come in,” she said. “Seamus is on his way to the sheriff’s office. I wanted him to stay home with that knot on his head, but he said you folks were in danger. Please, tell me you’re all right.”
Nellie nodded as Myrna slammed the back door behind them and locked it. While the older woman made tea, Nellie relayed what had happened with Big Jim.
When Nellie got to the part about Ruby hitting him with the pot, Myrna stopped and stared at the little girl.
“What were you thinking, hitting a man like that? You could have gotten yourself killed.”
Ruby stared at her defiantly. “I was thinking that I already had one mother taken from me, and I wasn’t letting some mean man take this one. A girl needs a mother to guide her, and I will not be forced to find another.”
Tears streamed from the little girl’s face, and Nellie held her arms out to her. Ruby ran to her, sinking into Nellie’s embrace.
“Please don’t leave us, Nellie. I know what you told Papa, that you didn’t want to be married to him anymore, but I saw you two kiss, and surely that means you’ve changed your mind. I promise I’ll never be mean again, just stay.”
Nellie held the sobbing girl close to her, then looked up to see that the other two children were also crying. Maeve probably didn’t understand why she was upset, but with everyone else in such a state, she’d joined them.
Shifting her weight, Nellie moved Ruby to one side and held out her other arm to the younger children. “Come here.”
They needed no encouragement as they ran into Nellie’s arms, and she held the three children as they all cried.
She didn’t want to go, either. But how could she explain the difficulties of adult relationships and the fact that she would be miserable if Luke didn’t truly love her?
The family, minus Luke, sat in Myrna’s kitchen for quite some time, holding each other, alternating between crying and sharing their gratitude and love. And the longer they were there, the more Nellie wondered how she was ever going to leave. Could she bear to stay if Luke’s declarations of love weren’t real? As she kissed the tops of each of the children’s heads, she prayed that God would find a way to heal the pain in both Luke’s and Nellie’s hearts to keep their family together.
* * *
Luke wasn’t sure how long he held the gun on Big Jim. The rise and fall of the man’s chest told Luke he was alive. Which meant he was still a threat. Big Jim could just be lying there, waiting for the opportunity to get up and fight Luke for the gun.
But he wasn’t going to let that happen.
The front door swung open, and Owen staggered in, holding a large ball of snow to his head.
“Please tell me he didn’t get them.”
“They’re safe at Myrna’s.” Luke gestured at the fallen man with Seamus’s gun. “Not sure about him. He hasn’t gotten up, but that doesn’t mean I trust that he won’t.”
“Where’s Seamus?” Owen looked around the room.
“Gone to get the sheriff. He was out for a while, too, but he said he could make it.”
Several lawmen entered the house, and Seamus staggered in behind them. He stopped and stared at Owen. “How’d he get you, too?”
Owen shook his head slowly. “Wasn’t him. He must’ve had a lady friend. A fancy carriage stopped in front of me, and a lady leaned out and asked if I could help her. Of course I went over to her to see what was going on. Before I knew it, I was on the ground. Don’t even know what hit me.” He rubbed his head. “But it sure hurts.”
The men had started dragging Big Jim out of the house. Blood was everywhere, and Luke felt sick to his stomach at the sight. How were they supposed to have Christmas in this house now?
He spied a piece of mistletoe on the ground. He’d seen Myrna give it to Amos, delighting his son. Theirs had all been destroyed with Big Jim’s first visit. Luke wasn’t about to let this one be lost to Amos, as well. He picked it up and shoved it in his pocket.
One of the men who’d come in turned to Owen and Seamus. “I’ve sent for a doctor. Why don’t you two sit in the meantime?” He turned his attention to Luke. “And you can tell me what happened.”
Luke stared at him. “And just who might you be?”
“US Marshal Dean Whitaker. I’m a friend of Will’s. He tipped me off about Big Jim’s presence in Leadville. Our men have been chasing him across the country. You’ve just done us a big favor. But I still need to know what happened for my report.”
As Luke relayed the events of the afternoon
, including Will leaving for the bank, the man frowned. At one point, he signaled to one of the men at the door and whispered something in his ear. The other man left, and the marshal brought his attention back to Luke.
“I’d like to speak with your wife and children now. Would that be all right with you?”
Though Luke knew he needed to cooperate, he was grateful that the man had at least asked. He nodded, then guided the marshal over to Myrna’s, where he found Nellie and the children holding each other.
“Papa!” The children called out his name but didn’t let go of Nellie. Though he would have liked to have taken them in his arms, he also didn’t want to separate them from the woman they found so much comfort in.
“Please make her stay.” Ruby looked up at him with longing in her eyes. “I even got the bad guy so he can’t hurt her anymore.”
Luke stared at her. “You did that?”
“And I’d do it again, if it meant saving Nellie. I can’t lose another mother, I just can’t.”
The heartbreak in his daughter’s voice nearly undid him.
“Please, Papa,” Amos said, tears in his eyes. “Kiss her again, so we know you love her, and she’ll want to stay. I lost the mistletoe, but Nellie says you don’t have to have it to kiss someone you love. And you do love her, don’t you?”
Luke closed his eyes. Did his children have any idea what they were saying? Did Nellie understand that she’d not only captured his heart, but theirs, as well?
“I do,” he said quietly. “But that’s a grown-up matter. And right now, we have grown-up matters to discuss. This man here needs you to tell him what happened so the bad man in our house goes to jail for a very long time.”
As Nellie and the children described to the marshal what happened, Luke couldn’t help but admire the bravery they’d all shown. And once again, he was struck by Nellie’s devotion to his children. She truly loved them, and it was clear they loved her in return. How else would Ruby have found the strength to hit Big Jim with that pot?
Mistletoe Mommy Page 21
