by Dee Burks
The sound of horses’ hooves in the distance froze the men in place as each listened to discern a direction. The men mounted and headed full bore toward the sound. Just ahead, three riders rounded a curve in the creek and sped toward them. Taos’s attention immediately settled on waves of long golden hair flying in the wind.
Samantha spotted him about the same time and the two rode directly toward each other. They reined their mounts to a halt, she leaped into his arms, and he dragged her over onto his horse.
The old couple reined behind her and nodded to the sheriff.
“I take it they’re acquainted.” Ben winked at Lillian.
“Yes sir, I say that’s a fair assumption.” Sheriff Blake grinned from ear to ear as the young couple kissed, oblivious to their presence.
Taos hugged Samantha close as their lips melded together. He’d already resigned himself to the fact that they might not find her—or not alive anyway. He’d been so scared he’d never see her again and now here she was. He had to be sure she knew he’d never let her go again.
After a few minutes, then a few more minutes, then some throat clearing, followed by more throat clearing, the group headed back toward town. The sheriff questioned the older couple as well as Samantha.
Ben’s description was the most colorful. “That Lawson fella is a little on the odd side, if you ask me. I mean, if I was gonna grab a woman and run off with her, I wouldn’t stop and offer to pay for a room at somebody’s house.”
“Is that how he got you to let him in?” The sheriff’s investigator hat sat firmly in place.
“Oh, yes,” Lillian added. “He said his lady was sick and they needed to rest.” She thought for a moment. “I am curious about something though.”
“What’s that?” Blake listened intently as the horses made their way around a small group of bushes.
Lillian glanced slyly at her husband. “If you were going to run off with a woman, how exactly would you do it?”
Ben burst out laughing. “Well, there’s two possibilities.” He winked at his wife.
The sheriff shook his head in frustration.
“If I grabbed her like that guy did, I’d sure keep goin’ and not stop for nothin’ or nobody.”
“What makes you think she might want you after that?” A smile played on Lillian’s lips.
“Hmm.” Ben rubbed his chin. “That would be a problem.” He paused as Taos and Samantha snickered. “Then I’d have to go to the backup plan.”
“Which is?” Taos asked.
“Well, I’d just make her marry me and wear her down over time.”
“And you think that might work better?” Lillian laughed.
“Well, Mother, it sure worked the first time.” He reached over to her horse and squeezed her hand.
Blake shook his head. “I swear I’m gonna puke!”
The conversation returned to Lawson.
“I don’t think you’ve heard the last of him.” Blake’s concern was evident.
“If we get married, then he won’t have anything to claim,” Samantha interjected.
“There’s been a development in that area.” Blake nodded at Taos. “Well, tell her already son!”
“Tell me what?”
“Um, it seems we’re already married.”
“No, we’re not!”
“Apparently, we are.”
“I think I would have remembered if I had said ‘I do’ to anyone.”
“You mean the way I said ‘I do’ before you left me at the altar?”
Samantha smiled at him. “I don’t think you can have an altar in a whorehouse.”
“We’ve been married for three years,” Taos said.
Her faced reflected her disbelief.
He nodded. “Really. By proxy. Apparently Mattie and Jake arranged it to ensure the water rights would be safe just in case a drought ever made it a necessity. That’s where that inheritance came from. They planned to have it annulled, but didn’t get the paperwork taken care of.” Taos watched her face as she digested the entirety of what he had said. His heart skipped a beat as her mouth spread into a slow smile then came to a near dead stop as she frowned. This could be bad. She glared up at him.
“We have been married this whole time?”
He nodded slowly as pinpricks ran across his neck and behind his ears.
“You mean, I got on a train and traveled across the country, was tied up and dragged to your house”—their three silent companions stared at Taos, who shrugged. Samantha continued—“put up with your mouth, actually went to a whorehouse for advice”—more stares—“not to mention you throwing my clothes out the window for God and everybody to see.”
Taos hoped she would at least take a breath soon.
She pointed a finger at his chest. “Just to be kidnapped and tied up and dragged off by an evil man and then forced to watch him eat potatoes, ham, biscuit, potatoes, ham, biscuit . . .”
Taos shook her shoulders slightly. “You’re babbling.”
The other two men nodded in agreement.
“I can’t help it!” she yelled. “I went through all this for nothing!”
“Well, I wouldn’t say nothing.” He paused, but she remained silent.
She didn’t look overly thrilled at him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t know!”
She gazed at him with suspicion.
“Really! Miles told me after Lawson dragged you out of the wedding. We were getting married anyway, so what difference does it make now?”
“I don’t know.” She looked tired. “I just need to sort this all out.”
“You’ll feel better after you’ve had some sleep.”
She nodded and leaned her head on his shoulder. He held onto her with one hand and guided his horse with the other. His mind ran a big circle around the events of the last twenty-four hours.
They were married. That was a good thing, right? He got the security of knowing she was safe and so were the ranches. Samantha got his protection as well as a family and home out of the deal. Things were tied up in a neat little package.
Still, a strange sense of foreboding hovered over him, refusing to be stifled.
He looked down at the top of her head. What could she possibly have to sort out?
Chapter 23
Darren heard the good news about the rescue just as he barreled into town to help. He and Charlie had seen the smoke and spent the entire night rounding up the herd and getting them across the river. The wind could shift at a moment’s notice, and the herd would not be completely safe until the water lay between them and any further threat of fire. They decided Charlie would stay with the cattle and make sure they stayed in the clear until they verified all was safe.
The sheriff filled him in on the details, including how Taos had saved the Ward boys. Town hardly seemed like the same place. People who just days earlier had been at each other’s throats were shaking hands and greeting each other like long lost friends. Several stopped Darren to tell how grateful they were to Taos. The wife beater rumors seemed all but forgotten. It confirmed for him how fickle people could be. Darren made his way over to Reverend Miller’s where Tommy was staying during the chaos. The man appeared more than eager to hand Tommy over to his uncle’s care.
After five minutes, Darren knew why.
“The bad guy grabbed her and dragged her out. Me and Nate was gonna follow but his pa sent us home.” He wiggled a little on the saddle in front of his uncle. “Then the fire came and all the people were running and yelling. Nate’s ma started crying then his pa went to help soak blankets at the well.” Tommy yawned.
“When did you go to bed?”
“We went up to bed when it got late, but we watched out Nate’s window ’til near morning. Nate’s ma said they found Sammy and she was safe.”
“Yep, your pa took her home.”
“So she’s my very own ma for real, now? Like the way Nate has a real ma?”
“Yes.” Nate was the Miller
’s oldest boy. Apparently the two’d had quite a time with the excitement of the wedding and then the fire. Still, the frustration of listening to the kid rattle on would wear on anybody. Darren couldn’t blame Tommy, the boy was just excited. Really excited, and so was he. Though it didn’t tumble out of his mouth like it did Tommy’s. He almost envied that ability.
Samantha had been a constant companion during Darren’s early years, and the fact that she was now a real part of the family was the best news he’d had in a long time. She was the only female he could talk to without getting his words all mixed up. Even when they were kids, she never judged him or thought him less than bright, like so many others did. He didn’t speak to a soul for six months after she left.
Tommy’s relentless questions invaded his memories.
“So she’ll always be here? And maybe we can go swimming? Maybe every day?” He paused for a quick breath. “Does this mean I might get a brother?”
Darren groaned. This ride was getting longer every minute.
“Nate has a little brother. They do lots together. If I had a little brother I could teach him stuff I know, like how to do chores, and where to dig for the best worms, and . . .”
The boy continued to chatter, but it got Darren to thinking. If his brother was as affection-starved as he guessed, Tommy might get more than he bargained for. A slow grin spread across Darren’s face. That might be just what Taos needed to take a little starch out of his stride. He had a mental image of his brother trying to handle a couple of little girls bouncing on his lap. Darren threw his head back and laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“I was just thinking that you might get s-sisters.” He poked Tommy’s ribs. “Lots of ’em.”
“Naw, I don’t like girls much.” Tommy shook his head. “They don’t fish or skip rocks in the creek or nothin’. They just stand around and giggle all the time.”
Darren could certainly agree with that, with the exception of Sammy of course. The house rose into view and it’s shadow blocked the sun’s last rays. The late hour didn’t slow the stream of questions from Tommy. If anything he picked up speed.
“I’m kinda hungry. She’ll be here to cook, too?”
“Mmmm.”
“I like the way she cooks. She always makes stuff I like—and makes sure I eat.” The small voice lowered to a whisper. “Even when I’m in trouble she sneaks me cookies and milk, but don’t tell anyone.”
Darren chuckled. Sammy was exactly what this boy needed. Jimbo greeted them with an enthusiastic bark as the two climbed off the horse and headed into the house; Darren was two steps behind Tommy. The boy was off like a shot up the stairs and Darren had just enough time to hook a finger into Tommy’s back belt loop and halt his progress.
“What?” Tommy questioned.
Darren surveyed the scene with a shake of his head. There was a shirt on one step, ruffles and lace of some sort hooked over the banister, and a stocking dangling from a lampshade. He swallowed his laughter and tried to sound stern.
“I ought to go first. You never know what might be up there.”
The boy glanced quickly around. “You think that bad guy’s here?” He whispered with the excitement of the hunt. “We can take him Uncle Darren, just you and me. Why, we’ll knock him down and kick him.” Little fists flailed air. “And then we can call the sheriff and he’ll hang him high.” Tommy placed his hands around his throat like a noose and rolled his eyes back in his head.
Darren held out a hand to steady the little body as he nearly tumbled down the stairs in excitement. From what he could see it looked like the bad guy was a distant memory, and what he guessed was upstairs would probably shock a boy into puberty. He scooped up clothes as he climbed the steps with Tommy behind him, closer than a shadow.
Taos’s door was closed, and Darren paused outside to listen. Tommy slid through his uncle’s knees and pressed an ear to the door.
“Think they’re in there, Uncle Darren?” he whispered.
“I think they’re asleep.” He certainly hoped so anyway as he turned the knob and opened the door just a crack. Samantha’s head was resting on Taos chest and his arm was curled around her with his fingers tangled in her hair. Taos’s eyes popped open and focused on Darren.
“Pa’s awake.”
Samantha’s head popped up at the sound of Tommy’s voice. She grabbed the sheet and tugged it higher. “Really, Darren, can’t we have a little privacy?” Her voice squeaked.
“Sorry.” He ducked, trying to keep Tommy from running in with his one free hand. “I just wanted to be sure you were all right.”
“Are you sure?” Taos’s voice was laced with heavy irritation.
Samantha poked him in the side. “We appreciate the concern, and we’re both fine. Just tired.”
Darren lost the struggle with Tommy and dropped his armload of clothes just as the boy scooted around his legs.
Taos and Samantha both sat up in alarm as the small body hopped onto the foot of the bed.
“Darren says you’re like a real ma now, just like Nate has a real ma, and you’ll be cooking all the time and we can go swimmin’ and fishin’ . . .”
Darren scooped up the boy and slung him over his shoulder. “We’ll be letting you sleep now.”
The door slammed shut on Tommy’s chatter and Taos flopped back on the pillows. Samantha breathed a sigh of relief.
“And I want a little brother, too,” the voice yelled from the stairs.
She cast an alarmed look at Taos.
He was smiling. “You should tell him we’ve already been working on that.”
“I will not!” She laughed in feigned shock. “Of course, I wouldn’t mind continuing to work on it.” She slid a hand over his chest. He caught it and kissed her palm.
“I feel I have to warn you, ma’am,” he said sternly.
“Warn me?”
“There could be some serious squishing involved.” He rolled her onto her back as she laughed.
Samantha ran her fingers through the dark wavy locks that fell just over his ears. “So are you happy with the way things turned out?”
“Well, there’s a few advantages to being married.” His tongue darted between her breasts.
“Only a few?” she giggled as he tickled her ribs and they got back to some serious loving.
Darren rummaged around the kitchen for something to eat as Samantha’s laughter floated to his ears. He leaned both hands on the table and stared out the window. That kind of happiness could drive a single man insane. Jimbo’s barking snapped him back to attention and he leaned out the door and hollered for Tommy.
The two of them searched cabinets and banged pots until Samantha finally appeared at the kitchen door.
“What are you two doing?”
Her voice stopped them both in their tracks.
“Cooking.” Darren plopped a mountain of lard into the skillet as Tommy jumped down from the chair he was standing on. He ran to Samantha and took her hand.
“You gotta help. He can’t do it right.” The boy pushed her toward the stove as Taos walked in, looking a little irritated.
“Did you two have to make so much noise?” He glared at Darren. “We couldn’t sleep a wink.”
“Well it’s quiet now that Sammy’s down here.” Darren grinned. “You could g-go back up and crawl into bed.”
Taos grunted and glared.
“Darren,” Samantha warned. “You know better than to tug on a tiger’s tail.”
“Hopefully he’ll be g-growling a lot less from now on.” Darren squeezed Samantha’s shoulders and sat down at the table.
“Not if he never gets any sleep.” Taos huffed.
Dinner was filled with easy conversation, mostly answering Tommy’s thousand and one questions. All three adults were glad to see his eyes finally droop . He was sent off to bed in short order.
“So what about this Lawson?” Darren held his cup as Samantha poured more coffee. “You think he’ll show up here?”<
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“No,” Taos paused and thought for a moment. “He’s not really a fighter. He’s more of a snake belly type. Just tried to grab and run. Don’t believe he‘d stand and go toe to toe.”
Darren nodded.
“If he tries anything, I figure he’ll wait until she’s alone and try to take her.”
“So . . . I‘m not safe here?” Samantha’s question seemed to take both men by surprise.
“Absolutely.” Taos’s voice was unwavering and confident. “He’s not fool enough to confront both of us at once.”
Samantha nodded, but didn’t seem totally convinced.
“One of us will be with you twenty-four hours a day.” He ran his finger along the back of her hand.
Darren cleared his throat. “I guess that means I have the day shift.”
Jimbo’s rousing bark outside the door joined their laughter.
“He just can’t stand to be left out.” Samantha shook her head as the dog’s voice slid into a rousing yowl.
Taos closed the back door to shut out the noise as the three departed for bed.
As the light in the kitchen disappeared, a shadow moved into the barn.
Chapter 24
Samantha watched another sunset from the porch—except this time, as Taos Williams’s wife. She knew her heart, but did she know his? She’d wanted to belong here, to him, and now she did, but uncertainty still plagued her mind.
Last night she’d dreamed that he’d had a terrible accident and she had lost him. She awoke to the sound of his steady breathing and lay awake for several hours with her hand on his chest, feeling it rise and fall. The fear seemed almost paralyzing. Was this the same love her mother had known?
Things seemed to be getting back to normal, but Taos really hadn’t said much. How did he feel about her, about this? He had been so absolutely set against marriage. Had he truly changed his mind, or was he just making the best of the situation? She replayed the last day in her mind. He hadn’t treated her any different than before, except they shared a bed now. She looked at her left hand. He hadn’t even mentioned a ring. A small wave of sadness washed over her.
“You coming up to bed?” Taos stood in the doorway.
