Brodie's Gamble

by Shirleen Davies

  An image of his cousins flashed through his mind. Colin, Blaine, and Quinn standing outside, watching, laughing at how he’d lost his courage over a woman. Determined to get past his fear, he turned Maggie toward the sofa, sitting down beside her, not letting go of her hand.

  “We’ve spent a good deal of time together, lass. You must know how I feel about you.”

  Her expression softened, although her eyes flashed with amusement. “I can’t read your mind, Brodie. Why don’t you tell me how you feel?”

  He stifled a groan, wondering how this had become so hard. “Well…” He cleared his throat, staying silent.

  “Do you like me, Brodie?”

  Her question seemed to shock him. “You know I do.”

  She nodded. “Do you enjoy spending time with me?”

  “I could spend every minute of every day with you, lass.”

  Again, she nodded. “Do you go to sleep at night thinking of me, waking with me in your thoughts?”

  “Every night and every morning.”

  “And touching me…do you enjoy touching me?”

  This time the groan escaped his lips. “Aye, lass. I do enjoying touching you.” With each answer, his voice became more strained. “I can’t imagine a life where I can’t reach out and hold you, be with you whenever I want.”

  Catching her lower lip between her teeth, she nodded again, taking his other hand. “I’m glad because I feel the same about you. I love you, Brodie, and I’m afraid there is nothing I can do about it.”

  Without thought, he slid to the floor in front of her, knowing his eyes revealed everything he felt for this woman. “I love you, Maggie. I’ve loved you when I shouldn’t have and love you more with each passing day. I want us to build a life together in Conviction.” He drew in a breath to clear his head. “Marry me, Maggie King. Be my wife.”

  It was then he noticed the bright smile and tears streaking down her face, her head nodding almost imperceptibly as she looked into his eyes.

  “Yes, Brodie MacLaren. I will marry you, build a family, and wrap my whole life around yours.”

  Standing, he picked her up, twirling her in a circle as he let out an ear-splitting shout.

  In an adjacent room, Lorna looked into her husband’s eyes and swiped away a tear of her own. “I believe she said yes.”

  The next two weeks passed in a blur as everyone prepared for a Christmas wedding. Lorna and the aunts worked on the dress, while the oldest daughters planned the food. A few people from town were invited, including Sam, Nate, Jack, and August Fielder.

  The original layer of snow had melted, only to be replaced by almost two feet from a freak storm which moved through the week after Brodie had proposed. He’d ridden back to the ranch once, then was forced to stay away. Between a surge in drunken brawls, petty crime, and problems due to the unusual weather conditions, travel to the ranch had become impossible.

  Whenever Brodie became frustrated with his inability to see or touch Maggie, he remembered the look on her face when she’d accepted his proposal. They may be separated, but she was safe with his family. He knew as far as they were concerned, Maggie was already a part of the MacLaren clan.

  “MacLaren, you need to come with me. There are some visitors who made it up the river and are staying at the Gold Dust.” Sam took off his hat, shaking off the melting snow, and stomped his feet. “I wish it would either snow enough to stay or let the current cover melt.”

  “Ira Greene at the telegraph office says the weather hasn’t been so abnormal in this area for at least twenty years.”

  “Just my luck.” Sam scrubbed a hand down his damp face, shaking the moisture to the floor.

  “About these people at the hotel…” Brodie stood to grab his hat and jacket. A few hours before, he’d released the last of the miscreants who’d been sleeping off their drunken binge. The weather seemed to be warming enough that he knew he’d be able to ride to the ranch the following day.

  When Sam’s expression grew serious, Brodie knew he wouldn’t like what his deputy had to say.

  “It’s a family, Brodie. Their last name is King and they’re looking for their daughter, Marguerite.”

  Brodie sat at the largest table available in the dining room of the hotel, tapping his fingers as he waited. An untouched cup of coffee grew colder as the minutes ticked by. He’d sent a message to the King family, asking to speak with them. The hotel clerk had returned moments later, asking him to wait. After fifteen minutes, he was about ready to leave when a man of average height with a slight paunch and thinning brown hair approached him. Behind him walked a woman about the man’s age and two boys. Brodie assumed they were Maggie’s brothers.

  “Sheriff MacLaren.” The man extended his hand. “We’re sorry to keep you waiting. It took us a while to get warm after our long journey. I’m George King, and this is my wife, Felicia. The boys are Robert and Jonathon.”

  He shook King’s hand, nodding toward the other three. “Please, sit down. Now, how I can help you?”

  “I don’t quite know where to start, except we heard about a young woman in Conviction who might be our missing daughter. The clerk here at the hotel said you know about a Marguerite King.”

  Clearing his throat, Brodie couldn’t suppress the surge of doubt pooling around him. The same apprehensive feeling he’d fought since after Thanksgiving. The doubt which had almost stopped him from proposing to Maggie.

  “I do know a Marguerite King, sir. Nineteen years old and goes by Maggie, correct?”

  “Yes, yes. That’s her.” George turned to his wife, seeing her face already buried in her hands. “Is she still here?”

  “Not in town, but yes, Maggie is still in the area.”

  George grabbed his wife’s hand. “She’s here, Felicia. Our Maggie is here.” He shifted back to Brodie. “Where is she? Can you take us to her?”

  It had taken a great deal of negotiating before King had agreed to wait until the following morning to start for the ranch. Brodie had chosen not to mention his relationship to Maggie.

  Even though the weather had cleared, it still took over twice as long to reach the ranch. They’d turned the last corner when Brodie spotted movement on his family’s front porch. As they got closer, he recognized Jinny and Kenzie. A moment later, another figure came outside, turning toward him. Even from this far out, he could hear Maggie’s shout.

  “Brodie!” Running down the steps, she raced toward him as fast as she could in the heavy boots. Careful not to trip, she kept her head down, not looking up until she came within ten yards of Hunter. “Brodie, you made it.” Her face lit up a moment before she noticed the wagon behind him and who sat on the seat.

  “Maggie.” Her father dropped the lines and jumped to the ground.

  “Papa?” She glanced at Brodie, then back at her father, uncertain of what to do.

  “Yes, Maggie. We found you.” George wrapped her in a hug, then turned, helping his wife off the wagon and into their daughter’s arms.

  “Oh, Maggie. You don’t know how we’ve worried about you, wondered if you were all right. I can’t believe we’ve found you after all this time.” Felicia dropped her arms and stepped away, taking a good look at her daughter. “You’ve changed.”

  “Yes, Mama, I have.” She hadn’t expected her parents to come for her. Over the years, she’d convinced herself they’d forgotten all about her.

  “It doesn’t matter. You’ll have plenty of time to tell us everything on the way home.” Her father’s words were soft as he stepped between Maggie and her mother.

  “Home?” Maggie breathed out.

  “Of course, angel. You’re coming back to Texas with us.” Her father spoke as if they’d all agreed.

  “Oh, Maggie. We’ve all missed you so much. The last two years have been a nightmare for all of us.” Tears filled her mother’s eyes. “There were days I thought we’d never see you again. All we want is to have you back home, safe with us.”

  “Mama, I don’t know if
I’m ready to go back. There are people here. I’ve begun to build a life—”

  “Of course you’ve made friends, Maggie, but your place is with us…with your mother and brothers.” Her father reached out, cupping her face with his palm. “Now that we’ve found you, we can’t bear the thought of not having you with us any longer.”

  Brodie’s heart constricted at the plea in her father’s voice. They’d lost a daughter, thinking they’d never find her again. He wanted Maggie to do what was best for her, what would make her happy. Still, she had agreed to marry him and he loved her.

  “Hold on, Mr. King.” Dismounting, he placed a hand on George’s shoulder. “Maggie has been through quite a bit. More than you can ever imagine. Why don’t we go up to the house? I’ll introduce you to my family and we’ll talk.”

  “We appreciate the offer, and you are the sheriff, but you’ve got no say in the decisions of my family. Maggie will be coming home with us.”

  Brodie kept himself in control, his voice calm as he came between King and Maggie. “Maggie is nineteen now, an adult, and capable of making her own decisions. She is your daughter and can choose to go with you, but you’ll need to give her time to decide.”

  “You forget your place, Sheriff MacLaren, and what our family has suffered these past two years. Yes, she’s my daughter. The baby I helped bring into the world and the girl standing before me now. The same girl who will be leaving with her family.”

  “I’m afraid I can’t just let you take her, Mr. King. If Maggie goes, she leaves because she wants to, not because she feels forced.”

  King crossed his arms, setting his feet shoulder-width apart. “And who are you to tell me how to handle my family?”

  Brodie glanced at Maggie, stepped closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “Maggie has agreed to marry me, Mr. King. I’m your future son-in-law.”

  Chapter Twenty

  “Mr. and Mrs. King, these are my parents, Ewan and Lorna MacLaren.”

  Ewan stepped forward, extending his hand. “Mr. King, it’s a pleasure.” He waited, seeing George’s face cloud. After a moment, Maggie’s father clasped Ewan’s hand.

  “Mr. MacLaren.”

  “Please, come inside. My wife has coffee, unless you’re ready for something a little stronger.”

  George’s face relaxed. “It’s a little early for whiskey, but under the circumstances, I think I may have a small amount.”

  “Mrs. King, why don’t you and Maggie visit with me in the kitchen?” Lorna took Felicia’s elbow, gently guiding her toward the kitchen.

  Brodie placed his hands on Maggie’s shoulders, turning her to face him. “It will all work out, lass. I’m going to join Da and your father in the study.” He brushed a kiss across her forehead, then closed the door behind him.

  Maggie felt adrift, her world turned upside down by the appearance of a family she’d expected never to see again. The same family who might not accept her when they learned of all she’d been through. Beneath his friendly exterior, George King was a tough man, hardened by a life filled with setbacks and lost dreams. He ruled with a firm hand, having a soft heart for his wife. He did all he could to give Felicia whatever she wanted. If she wanted Maggie to return home, he expected his daughter to comply without argument and with grace.

  Glancing at the closed study door, she walked toward the kitchen, hearing muffled voices. Jinny had sent Kenzie and Maggie’s brothers to the barn to find Banner and Clint, then joined Lorna and Felicia in the kitchen. When Maggie stepped through the doorway, she saw the distress on her mother’s face.

  Felicia turned toward her daughter, her eyes filled with pain. “Mrs. MacLaren says you plan to marry on Christmas. Is this true?”

  “Yes, Mama. I love Brodie and plan to stay in Conviction with him.”

  “Surely you know you must come back home with us. Your father will never allow you to marry a man he doesn’t know.” She walked up to Maggie, resting a hand on her arm. “I don’t know what happened the last two years, and I’m sure you’ve been through much you aren’t ready to discuss. I also know you don’t have to rush into a marriage because you believe you have no other options.”

  Jinny gasped, her eyes widening at the insult not only to Brodie, but to all the MacLarens. Lorna simply crossed her arms, narrowing her gaze at Felicia, knowing there would be a time to speak her piece.

  “Mother, I’ll not have you insulting this wonderful family who took me in, helped me when I had no other place to go. Besides, there is much about the MacLarens, and Brodie, you don’t know.”

  Felicia’s face reddened a little as her body stiffened. “I meant no insult, Mrs. MacLaren. Please understand. It’s been two years since we lost Maggie. I can’t bear the thought of traveling back to San Antonio without her.”

  Maggie’s anger rose. She’d seen her mother often use guilt to get what she wanted. It’s how Maggie became more of a mother than a sister to her brothers. When Felicia had fallen ill, she used guilt to pressure her husband and daughter to take on her responsibilities so she could recover. Three years later, she would still lie in bed most of each day. As much as Maggie loved her mother, she also knew her to be lazy. A woman who’d take advantage of others to make her own life easier.

  “I know this must be very hard for you, Mrs. King. I know if I lost Jinny, or any of my children, I’d never want to let them out of my sight again. However, Maggie is an adult now, able to make her own decisions.” Lorna poured a cup of coffee, handing it to Felicia. “Please, let’s sit down. This doesn’t need to be sorted out right now.”

  Taking a chair next to her mother, Maggie struggled with what to do. She loved her family and did want to spend time with them. As stern as her father was, he’d always taken care of everyone, asking little for himself. She believed if it were up to him, he’d let Maggie stay, welcome Brodie into the family. Because of her mother’s wishes, her father would fight with all he had to see Maggie return home with them, no matter the misery it caused her.

  She took a sip of coffee and glanced at Jinny, whose gaze searched hers. They’d become close over the last weeks. Maggie couldn’t imagine never seeing her, or any of the MacLarens, again. And Brodie. She loved him. The thought of leaving, knowing he’d find someone else to marry and share his life with, tore at her heart. Setting down the cup, she stood.

  “I need some air.”

  “I’ll come—”

  “No, Mama. You stay here with Mrs. MacLaren. I won’t be gone long.” Maggie left the room, grabbed her heavy coat, and walked onto the porch. Taking in a deep breath, she crossed her arms and headed toward the corral, watching the young colt scamper around in the mud.

  “Your mother means well.”

  Maggie turned, glad to see Jinny by her side. “I know, but what am I to do?”

  Jinny stepped onto the bottom rail of the fence, resting her arms on the top rail to focus on the colt. “I’ve always loved seeing how our foals grow and change. At first, they are so dependent on their mothers. Needing attention, making sure they aren’t left behind. As they get older, they naturally separate, become the horse they’re meant to be. Some stay at the ranch. Others are sold, separated from their mothers forever. Yet all survive to make their own way in life. If only being human were so simple.” She glanced at Maggie, a soft sadness in her eyes.

  “Yes. If only.” Maggie looked around the pasture. She’d yet to experience the ranch in the spring when the grass would return as bright green tufts. Sarah would have her baby in late spring, and Maggie would miss it. Miss watching Brodie argue with his cousins, wrestle with his brothers. If she left, she’d miss it all.

  “What will you do?”

  “I don’t know, Jinny. My family has gone through so much. I just don’t know if I can handle their disappointment if I stay.”

  “And Brodie?”

  “I do love him. So much more than I can ever describe. I know how much he’ll hate me if I leave.”

  “Brodie will never hate you, Ma
ggie. The lad is daft over you.” Jinny jumped to the ground. “I love my brother and know how much you leaving will hurt him. At the same time, you must do what’s right for you. If you decide to leave, you must tell him soon. Don’t let him wonder, hoping you’ll stay.” She touched Maggie’s arm. “I will miss you a great deal if you leave, but I’ll understand. The MacLarens are nothing without our family. It’s what makes us strong. Keeps us going from one day to the next. Family is what sustains all of us.”

  Jinny walked back to the house, leaving Maggie alone with a decision which would make some happy while hurting others. She wanted to scream. Hadn’t she already been through enough? There’d be no decision to make if she and Brodie were already married. She’d promise to visit her parents when she could, watching them ride home without her. One week separated her from an easy decision and one filled with heartache.

  There simply was no good choice.

  Kyla offered to have Maggie’s family stay at her house overnight. Maggie chose to stay in the room she’d been using at Ewan and Lorna’s. After some not very subtle remarks by Mr. King, Brodie had decided to bunk with Quinn.

  Although it had almost killed him, he’d made the decision to wait until their marriage to consummate the union. She’d already been through too much, learning about what happened between men and women from a man who cared nothing for her. Brodie meant to show her how different real love was from what Arnie had taken from her.

  After breakfast the following morning, he took Maggie’s hand, guiding her to the barn and the saddled horses.

  “Isn’t it too cold to ride?”

  “We won’t go far. Enough to get away so we can talk without others around.”

  Maggie knew he meant her parents, who’d been pushing her to leave with them when they rode out that afternoon. She’d let their comments pass without responding, but her lack of an answer wouldn’t hold them off for long. They were ready to leave and had every intention of taking her with them.