Connie and the Cowboy (Outlaw Gold)

by Mildred Colvin

  Before they could respond, another knock sounded at the open door. Brett stepped inside the room and Connie quickly stuffed the papers back into the Bible while her new sisters hid her from his view.

  “Do I have a wife in here who wants to go on a wedding trip with me?” Brett’s voice stepped up Connie’s pulse.

  She stood on tiptoe and twisted to the side trying to see past her taller sisters. When she couldn’t get past them, she called out, “I reckon I might go with you, if you want me to.”

  Brett’s laughter warmed her heart. “You better believe I want you, Connie Norris. Come on. Let’s get our gear loaded.”

  Chapter 21

  Connie sat in the saddle, tense and ready to move. The two outfits in her saddlebags and her bedroll tied on behind were all she needed.

  Fugitive sidestepped with Brett as if eager to be on the trail again. “We’ll be back in a few days. Then, we’ll have to decide on a place to live.”

  Charles Norris the Third ran a hand over his thinning hair. “You’ve got a home here as long as you need it if the other doesn’t work out. And don’t forget the position.”

  Brett grinned. “I know, Father, and we appreciate it. I’ve lived my wild life. I’m ready to settle down, so we’ll count on that job. As for the land, we’ll just have to see what we think.”

  Connie scarcely paid attention to the men as she urged Chester forward and waved at the family gathered to see them off. Tears blurred her vision as their goodbyes and advice rang in her ears. Brett kept fugitive close beside Chester while they crossed town. When the road opened into country before them, she turned to smile at her husband.

  “You never told me where we was goin’.”

  He grinned. “I guess I didn’t.”

  “You gonna?”

  He shrugged. “If you want me to.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Brett, I wouldn’t-a asked if I didn’t want to know.”

  He laughed as if his happiness matched hers. “There’s a little cabin not far from here. Not more than five miles outside of town. We’re going to borrow it for a few days.”

  “And when was the last time you seen this cabin?”

  “Three days ago.”

  Connie studied Brett from the sparkle in his bright green eyes to his erect posture as he sat on Fugitive. He sure was worth all that trouble she’d gone through to get him, although she knew better than to tell him what she thought. He’d probably come back and say she hadn’t been an easy catch herself. But one thing troubled her. “Did you ever think that goin’ five miles out is the same as leavin’ town?”

  “Yeah, I reckon it is.” He glanced at her and grinned. “That’s why I took Jim with me to talk to the sheriff. Seems he’d got a telegram back from Purgatory, plus he’s learned a few things about Deputy Deems. By the way, Deems or Curly, whichever you want to call him, is wanted in Missouri and Arkansas and even over in Oklahoma. I guess you could say he supplemented his deputy job with a robbery here and there. He wasn’t too careful about who got in his way, so he’s wanted for murder, too. You gotta hand it to him though, as an outlaw, he was pretty good.”

  Connie shuddered. “He won’t be botherin’ us no more iffen he’s in jail.”

  “No, he won’t.” Brett sighed. “Actually, looks like he’s facing the rope.”

  Connie stared out at the rolling, green hills to the side of them while they rode. So much had happened, but it wasn’t over yet. Finally, she sighed. “Brett, I’m still waitin’ to hear ’bout that telegram from Purgatory.”

  “Oh, yeah, the telegram.” He grinned at her. “After Purgatory’s sheriff and deputy both up and left, the people hired replacements. The new sheriff got word that Fagan’s gang had been taken in on another attempted bank job and confessed to the robbery in Purgatory. Without pressure from Sheriff Burns, several eye witnesses admitted I wasn’t with them that day, I’m free of all charges.”

  “Ain’t God good to us?” Connie smiled while her eyes filled with tears.

  “He sure is,” Brett agreed.

  Connie absorbed all Brett had told her. Finally, she spoke as much to herself as to him. “Guess we’ll never know for sure who shot the sheriff.”

  “Oh, I forgot to tell you.” Brett shifted in the saddle to face Connie. “That’s something else Deems confessed to. Once he accepted the fact he’d hang anyway, he bragged about quite a few deeds. He trailed the sheriff from Purgatory, looking for a chance to kill him and me and take you hostage. He planned to get you alone to lead him to the gold. If Burns had killed me, Deems would have taken you right then. He fired right after the sheriff did, but we know what happened to the sheriff’s bullet.”

  “Yeah, it hit my knife and ended up in a tree, ‘cause you prayed.”

  “God answered my prayer and yours.”

  “He sure did. More than once.” Connie wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled. She never cried and she didn’t see any reason to start now.

  When the little log cabin came into sight, she fought back more tears. Standing all alone on the prairie with a couple of shade trees in the yard, it looked so lonesome. Must’ve been some pioneer family’s hopes and dreams, which hadn’t come true.

  Brett swung from the saddle, then stepped to Chester and lifted Connie down. He stood with her cradled in his arms while he accepted a leisurely kiss.

  When he pulled away, she tilted her head and smiled. “You never did that afore.”

  His eyebrows lifted. “What? Kiss you?”

  “’Course not. You’ve never taken me off Chester.”

  “I did when your shoulder was hurt.”

  “My shoulder ain’t hurtin’ now.” She grinned.

  “Ah, but you’ve never gone on a honeymoon with me before.”

  She shrugged as if she didn’t care. “Reckon I could get used to bein’ carried around iffen I tried.”

  “You little scamp!” He laughed, letting her slide to the ground. “Stay right here until I see what’s inside.”

  “I thought you done been out here.”

  He gave her a sheepish grin. “I did, but I didn’t do much housekeeping. Besides, there‘s a broken window in the back.”

  “Be careful, Brett.” Connie held her breath as she watched her husband kick the door open. Rifle in hand, he disappeared inside the small cabin. He stayed inside a long time before he reappeared, brushing dusty cobwebs from his shoulders.

  He coughed. “Got all the comforts of home. Just needs some cleaning.”

  “Well, I’d say so. You got cobwebs a-stickin’ on top of your head.”

  Brett brushed at his hair. “There’s a lean-to in back for the horses. I’ll unload them and turn them into the pasture.”

  Connie reached for Chester’s reins. “I’ll help.”

  With the horses munching grass in the pasture and their provisions piled beside the back door, Connie and Brett walked hand in hand toward the cabin. He scooped her up in his arms at the door, and she squealed. “What are you doin‘?”

  “The husband is supposed to carry his bride over the threshold. It’s tradition.”

  “What about our stuff?” she asked.

  Brett looked toward the pile of supplies with a thoughtful expression then his eyes brightened. “Once I get you inside, you can come back out and carry everything in.”

  “Brett Norris!” She laughed, tapping him on the shoulder as he laughed with her.

  The cabin was even dirtier than Connie had imagined. Old cobwebs hung across the corners, from the ceiling, and under the wooden trestle table that occupied the center of the room. She inspected the fireplace. “Look at this, Brett. Cobwebs ain’t the worst of it. I’ll bet that straw means they’s a bird’s nest in the chimney.”

  Brett looked where she pointed. “I think you’re right.” He pushed against the rock chimney. “This seems plenty solid.” He looked around the room. “The whole cabin is. What a shame it’s been let go this way.”

  “It’d make a right nice home at that
. Iffen a body wanted to clean it up.” Connie tried to keep the wistful note from her voice but figured she couldn’t hide her feelings from Brett.

  He reached out and pulled her close to him for a warm hug. “I guess we could clean the place up and stay, but there are no close neighbors. We might get lonesome out here by ourselves.”

  She nestled her cheek against his chest. “I ain’t never gonna be lonesome again, ’long as I got you.”

  She listened to his heartbeat against her ear. There wasn’t any better sound. Her own heart swelled with love for her husband. How had she ever survived without him?

  His finger under her chin brought her lips to his. He kissed her hungrily, then murmured against her hair. “Did you plan to cook something tonight?”

  Did he want to eat now? She shook her head, trying to think. “No, Mom packed us supper. All we gotta do is set it out.”

  Brett smiled. “Since when did she become Mom?”

  “Just afore we left.” Connie couldn’t meet Brett’s gaze in case he didn’t approve. “I never had no mom before.”

  He chuckled. “I told you she’s a natural mother.”

  When she didn’t respond, he bent until his face stopped only inches from hers. His eyes burned with love. “I’m glad, Connie. I want my family to be yours.”

  “Your sisters, too?”

  “Especially my sisters.” He lifted his head and laughed aloud. “Trust me, you can take as many sisters as you want.”

  “Good, then I’ll take ’em all.” Connie glanced out the back door. “Is there some place we can get some water? I’d like to clean this place up before we get them sandwiches out.”

  “Sure, bring your canteen for drinking water.” Brett lifted a bucket from the floor and inspected it. “No big holes, anyway. This should work for wash water.”

  Together they followed an overgrown path downhill to a babbling stream.

  “I hope this holds water.” Brett rinsed out the bucket then scooped it into the clear, running water. He held it up. “Well, look at that. No leaks.”

  They filled both canteens and the bucket. Brett leaned back on the mossy bank, shadowed by a canopy of leaves and pulled Connie against his side. The “tweet, tweet” of a dozen birds, and a woodpecker drilling for bugs in a nearby tree serenaded them.

  The flash of a cardinal’s wings caught their attention and Connie quoted, “See a redbird on your right, see your sweetheart before night.”

  Brett looked down at her and grinned. “I’ve heard that but never knew it was true until now.”

  Connie’s heart filled as she looked up at him. “I hope to see a redbird ever mornin’ for the rest of my days.”

  Brett kissed her temple and held her close. “So do I.”

  He trailed kisses down her cheek to her lips, and she responded as she’d never done before. Her love for Brett filled her heart and overflowed. She shoved thoughts of cleaning the cabin from her mind just as she figured Brett forgot about eating. The bucket of water sat by the creek bank where they left it until the bond between them, started in a jail in Purgatory, brought them together as one in the freedom of God’s outdoors.

  They lay motionless, enjoying the quiet and beauty of their honeymoon retreat.

  ~*~

  Three days had never passed so fast for Brett. He wouldn’t mind staying forever shut away from the world with Connie in their little cabin. The nearby woods provided plenty of game for the taking, and the running water in the spring was clear and fresh. Father had picked wisely for him and Connie.

  Brett anticipated each evening when he sat on the back steps of the cabin and read to Connie. He reached for his Bible, but Connie stopped him. “Don’t read from that one, Brett.” She held out her new Bible. “Read mine.”

  Brett took the Bible and ran his hand over the fine leather. “My sisters aren’t half bad, are they?”

  Connie giggled. “You may not be sayin’ that when I tell you.”

  He looked up. “Tell me what?”

  She met his gaze, her expression serious now. “You don’t got any secrets you want to keep from me, do you?”

  Brett frowned and shook his head. “None I can think of. Why?”

  “I just don’t think we oughtta keep secrets, that’s all.” She smiled. “Now we’re really and truly married, I mean.”

  “Okay, Connie, what are you not saying?” Brett grabbed her and put his fingers against her ribs. “Do I have to tickle the whole truth out of you?”

  Connie jerked away laughing. “No, I’ll tell, but you gotta promise me you won’t keep no secrets.”

  When Brett grabbed for her again, she sidestepped. “I mean what I’m sayin’, Brett.”

  “Oh, all right.” He folded his arms and leaned against the cabin wall. “I promise. Now what’s this all about?”

  “Look in my Bible. In the middle there’s a envelope with some pages. I want you to read them to me.”

  Brett straightened as he flipped the Bible open and took the envelope out. The puzzled frown on his face changed to a look of amazement and then laughter as he smoothed the pages and read silently.

  “Brett?”

  He looked at her with a wide grin. “You can’t read this?”

  She shook her head. “It looks like some kind of chicken scratches to me.”

  Brett laughed again. He held up the pages so she could see. “This is called cursive writing. My dear older sisters thought they’d pulled a swift one telling you every sin of my childhood, didn’t they?”

  Connie nodded, a hesitant smile on her face. “They told me to read it before you found out, but I don’t want no secrets between us, Brett. I want to know ever thing there is to know about you.”

  Brett took her in his arms and kissed her upturned lips. When the kiss ended, he led her outside to sit on the back steps. “I’ll read this, and if they’ve left anything out, I’ll tell you. Then, since you don’t have any vengeful sisters to torment you, you’ll have to tell me all your stories because I want to hear them all, too.”

  “I promise, Brett.” Connie snuggled against him as he spread the pages out again and began to read.

  ~*~

  The next day, Connie cleaned up after their lunch while Brett went outside. She followed and found him standing in the yard staring off into the distance. What was he thinking? She slipped her arm through his and leaned against his shoulder. He kissed the top of her head. “Walk down to the spring with me.”

  “I reckon I can do that.” She slipped her hand in his and let him lead her to the spot beside the gurgling water that she’d come to love.

  He released her hand, and she sank to the creek bank beside him, snuggling close to him. He seemed so serious as if he had something important to tell her. She didn't have to wait long.

  “I’ve been thinking about after we leave here.”

  “Why do we have to leave? Can’t we just stay?” Connie’s heart squeezed. This was home where Brett was truly hers.

  Brett chuckled. “Did you forget my job in town? We can’t live on rabbits forever, Connie. We need a home.”

  “We can plant a garden.” Connie jumped up and ran a few feet away. “Right here’s a good spot. This is flat land, and it’s close to the spring for waterin’. Please, Brett, can’t we stay here?”

  “What about neighbors?” Brett stretched his arm out and swept a wide circle. “I don’t see another dwelling anywhere. What will you do while I’m in town working?”

  Connie set a fist on each hip as she faced Brett. “Raisin’ quality horses, I hope. I won’t be needin’ no women folk hangin’ round. If I get to hankerin’ for talk, I can ride Chester in to see Mom.”

  Brett laughed. “I knew you weren’t a city girl. That’s why I took my father up on this place.”

  “What do you mean by took him up?” Connie dropped to her knees beside Brett.

  “The cabin’s for sale, Connie. We’re supposed to let Father know by the end of the week if we want him to buy it.” His eyes
looked into hers as if searching for an answer to the question he hadn’t asked. “The position in the factory comes with housing.”

  “Are you sayin’ he’d buy this place for you, if you wanted to live here?” Connie’s heart pounded.

  Brett nodded.

  “What about bein’ a cowboy?”

  Brett smiled. “We’re sitting in the middle of 160 acres of good grazing land. As long as the town doesn’t crowd us out, I’d say there’ll be plenty of time for me to play at cowboyin’ after I get home from work. We’ll raise those horses together. I’m ready to settle down. Someday maybe I’ll take over the factory and that’s all right. I’ve prayed about this a lot since we’ve been home. Working for my father feels right to me. I think this is what God wants me to do.”

  Connie looked around the rolling expanse of green grass and sighed. She turned back to meet Brett’s watchful gaze. A slow smile spread across her face. “I like it here, Brett. I like it real good.”

  He opened his arms and she lunged forward, knocking him against the bank. Their kiss was long and sweet before she pulled back. Her hands pinned each of his muscular shoulders. “I’m glad I took you from that jail. I can’t read real good, and I know I talk funny. I don’t know nothin’ about bein’ a lady. But I ain’t no ‘have-not.’ I’m a real ‘have’, Brett. ‘Cause I have you and even better, I have my heavenly Father who loves me more’n I can even imagine. He knew all along I needed you to show me the way. And I don’t mean just to Springfield, neither.”

  Love for Brett swelled in Connie as he smiled at her. He rolled over with her so she rested on her back in his arms. She’d never felt so loved.

  He kissed her, and she kissed him back. He rested his forehead against hers. “Let’s go into town and tell the folks we’re ready to get down to the business of living on our own land and making a life together.” He nuzzled her neck. “Maybe a baby or two.”

  She smacked his arm. “Brett Norris! We can’t tell ’em that.”