“What’s all this about?” John asked roughly, unable to quell his anger. “Why did you break into our home?”
“I’m here for the jewel stolen from the Lowerbys. It’s worth a lot of money. A fortune, you might say. And, to arrest the perpetrator.”
Chapter Sixty
Lily felt the accusing stare of the man, and the uncertain looks on Brandon’s and Charity’s face. She couldn’t bring herself to look at John. It might break her heart forever to see what he was thinking.
“What’s he talking about?” Charity gasped. “Lily hasn’t done anything wrong.”
“Someone’s going to stand trial.”
John sucked in a breath. “First off, Smith, it’s Mrs. McCutcheon now. Secondly, my wife would never steal anything, let alone a priceless jewel.”
“Are you telling me you know nothing of the gem’s whereabouts?”
Lily glanced up at John then, unsure of what he would say. Their eyes met, and locked. Perhaps he thought she’d been lying to him all along. That she was the thief, running to a new town, trying to escape justice. His eyes softened, then he went over to the table and pulled out a chair. The time had come to tell them everything. Lily took a seat and John sat beside her. The others followed suit.
John reached out and took her hand into his own. “Go on, Lily. Don’t worry. Everything is going to be okay. Let’s get this whole thing out in the open.” He looked so handsome, so sincere. She didn’t know if she should try to say that she did it, to protect her aunt. God only knew how long Tante would actually live after being incarcerated. Not long at all, she was sure.
His eyes were encouraging, his smile bitter-sweet. “Just how it happened, sweetheart.”
Lily took a deep breath as she sent a silent plea to God for help. For wisdom. To direct her words. To tell her what to do. She didn’t want to lose John, or this happiness that she’d so recently found. She didn’t want anything awful to happen to her aunt either, in these last few years of her life.
She kept her eyes on John’s thumb as it grazed back and forth across the back of her hand. “The night of the big storm I finally asked Tante Harriett where the jewel had come from. She was sad and ashamed over what she had done.”
Lily went on, retelling the story just as her aunt had told her, never stopping until the whole thing was out. When she was finished, she went to her cutting table and withdrew a box from underneath and hurried back to the table. Everyone was so quiet; she couldn’t imagine what they were thinking. From the box she withdrew a folded piece of paper. “Here is the letter I wrote to the Lowerbys saying how sorry we were and explaining why Tante Harriett would do such a thing. I was going to send it, along with the jewel, as soon as I could get their address in Boston.”
Lily then went over to her art piece hanging on the wall. Taking a pair of small scissors from her cutting table, she reached up and from between the many pretty beads and buttons, and snipped off the jewel, then walked over and placed it in the marshal’s hand.
Smith stood up, his gaze still hard. “I’ll need to talk to your aunt, this Harriett Schmidt, and see what she has to say.”
Lily looked at John, and he nodded. “It can’t be helped, Lily. It’ll be okay.”
They went up the stairs in silence, John leading the way with the lantern and the others following single file. John stopped just outside the bedroom door. Lily turned to look at the marshal. “Let me go in first and wake her up so she is not frightened,” she whispered. “When she sees you she will think you are here to arrest her.”
“She would be right.”
“Easy, Smith,” Brandon said crossly. “You don’t know that yet.”
John nodded. “I’ll go with you.”
Lily drew a deep breath, knowing her aunt was going to be frightened to death no matter what. At the side of the bed, she reached down and nudged her shoulder, whispering, “Tante Harriett. Tante Harriett, wake up.” John stood behind her, the room dim in the one lamp’s light. When nothing happened, John stepped forward and set the lamp on the bedside table.
The old woman looked incredibly serene.
A small smile lifted her cheeks, and she somehow looked years younger. The peacefulness on her face was that of an angel. As John and Lily gazed at her the realization of what had happened hit them at the same time. Turning into John’s embrace, Lily wrapped her arms around his body, letting out an anguished cry.
Strains of a waltz wafted into the room through the open window, the hauntingly sweet song of a lone violin.
John pulled Lily closer, running his hands down her back in comfort, nodding to the others in the hall to leave them alone. “Shhh, Lily, sweetheart. It was her time. Look how happy she looks.”
“I know,” she choked back, leaning into him. “It is just that I will miss her so much. She has done so many wonderful things for me. She brought me to you.”
John heard the downstairs door click closed. He sat in the corner chair, pulling Lily onto his lap. He stroked her hair as she buried her face into his neck, her tears warm on his skin. “Go ahead and cry, darlin’. It’s okay,” he whispered, gazing over Lily’s head at Harriett’s body in the bed. After several minutes Lily’s cries lessened, and she stilled in his arms.
Lily stiffened, then sat up quickly. “Did you hear that?”
“What?”
John followed his wife to the window, where she was gazing into the black sky. “Tante Harriett. She said to be happy. I heard her, John, as plain as if she were still here in the room. Didn’t you hear it?”
John wrapped his arms around her as they looked out.
Lily gasped. “Look.”
Just as he glanced up he saw a shooting star streak across the sky, from one side to the other, sparking as it went.
Lily turned and buried her face into his chest. “It was her! Tante Harriett said goodbye.”
The following Monday, after the funeral, a small group gathered outside the Wells Fargo office, waiting by the stage. The marshal, who was riding along until Denver, was already mounted, and Charity and Brandon held the reins of their horses as they said their goodbyes to the whole McCutcheon clan and all the friends who’d gathered. They would travel with the stage, along with a few more of Uncle Winston’s men, all the way to Y Knot. Uncle Winston had insisted.
Tears streamed down Charity’s face as she hugged Lily, then turned into her brother’s embrace. John held her close. She was special, this sister of his. She’d come all this way through hardship and danger just to see him, check on him after she’d feared he was in trouble. A tightness formed in his chest.
“I’ll miss you,” she said, still enfolded in his arms.
He cleared his throat painfully. “And, I you. Thank you for making the trip all the way to Rio Wells.”
She pulled back. “You better come to Y Knot soon. Mother and father will want to meet Lily. And so will everyone else.”
“We will.”
“Promise?”
He tweaked her red nose and noticed her watery eyes as he struggled not to tear up himself. “You know I will. I have a hankering to see the ranch and smell the high mountain air.”
She nodded. “I know what you mean.”
“What about you and Brandon?” he asked, glancing at his friend watching them with interest from a few feet away. “Will the two of you be tying the knot soon?”
Her face flushed.
“Charity?” He pulled her chin around with his finger so he could see into her eyes. “What aren’t you telling me?”
She shrugged in the mischievous way she had, but wasn’t able to keep a smile from her face.
“Five minutes,” the little man called out in a scratchy voice. Several people climbed aboard the stagecoach, waving to their loved ones.
“Charity, it’s time to go,” Brandon said, walking up and extending his hand to John. They shook, then embraced for several long seconds.
“Take good care of her,” John said with a teary voice. “And yourself.”
“I plan on it,” Brandon answered. “Let us know what happens with Shellston and his son when the judge arrives.”
Charity looked around. “Where’s Theodore? If he doesn’t hurry he’ll miss the stage.”
“Didn’t you hear?” John said, chuckling. “He’s decided to stay in Rio Wells.” At Charity’s surprised look he added, “I guess you’re not the only fish in the sea.”
Everyone laughed and Lily slipped under his arm. In a bubble of happiness, John picked her up and swung her in a wide circle to excited cheers and shouts from everyone. He made sure her feet were securely on the ground again before he kissed her passionately for anyone under God’s blue sky to see. The moment was sweet. His eyes filled as he set her away. Never was there a woman so beautiful. Her eyes danced and the sweet curl to her lips told him he was the luckiest man in the world.
“Come on, Darlin’,” he said, tenderly tucking her hand in the crook of his elbow. “We have a life to live. I’m itching to get started.”
Want to read more books by Caroline Fyffe?
MONTANA DAWN – Book One in The McCutcheon Family Series
2010 Maggie Finalist, 2010 Gayle Wilson Finalist , RWA Golden Heart Finalist
When Luke McCutcheon finds Faith Brown about to give birth in her rickety wagon, his first instincts are to ride for help. Instead, he stays and delivers a beautiful baby girl. Unable to leave the pretty young widow and her little son and newborn unprotected in the Montana wilderness, he brings them along on his family’s cattle drive, to the absolute delight of the other friendly cowboys.
“I ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OF THE BOOK AND THAT’S ABOUT AS GOOD AS A BOOK CAN GET!”—Philosophy of Romance
Luke, third son of Montana’s wealthy McCutcheon family, is different from his brothers. As the offspring of a Cheyenne warrior, he carries a chip on his shoulder for all to see. His flashing eyes and handsome face make Faith feel she’s stepped into some long-ago tale where men cherish their women--and keep them safe. If only she could trust him! Faith is on the run, and although she’s pampered and protected by Luke and his family, she just can’t risk the consequences of sharing the details of her past--one that’s hunting to take her back to the nightmare she’s just escaped. Happy-ever-afters are for fairytales, she reminds herself sternly as her heart feels the warm pull of his. Still, she can’t help but dream of a loving family, a home to call her own, a beautiful and bright…Montana Dawn
“CAROLINE FYFFE’S SECOND TALE GRIPS THE AUDIENCE AND NEVER SLOWS DOWN FOR EVEN A PARAGRAPH.” – Harriet Klausner
“IN THE TRADITION OF CLASSIC AMERICANA ROMANCES, FYFFE HAS FOUND HER PLACE ALONG SIDE LISA COOKE, LINDA LAEL MILLER AND CATHERINE ANDERSON.” --RT Book Review
“MONTANA DAWN HAS EVERYTHING. READERS WILL TASTE THE DUST, SMELL THE GUNPOWDER AND FEEL THE PASSION.” – Nationally acclaimed author Cheryl St.John
And Also…
WHERE THE WIND BLOWS –Sweet Historical Western
Winner of RWA’s Golden Heart Award and Write Touch Readers Award 2010.
Chase Logan is content. He’s free as a clear mountain stream and that suits him just fine. When he’s mistaken for Jessie Strong’s husband, he’s shocked, but her imploring gaze has him agreeing to play along—for three days—just until the adoption papers for darling three-year-old Sarah are finalized.
“CHARMING.” –RT BOOKREVIEW
Jessie knows Chase’s sense of chivalry is the reason he’s stepped in, but her imagination can’t help but pretend what life might be like with a man like Chase. He’s handsome and kind—and a bit dangerous, too.
“SWEET AND TOUCHING.” —All About Romance
The love that grows between Chase and Jessie defies the wildness of the land, the danger outside the door—but the secret between them is hurtful enough to shatter Jessie’s heart. Will it rip them apart? Or will their dream of being a real family come true at last, no matter… Where the Wind Blows
“EVERY NOW AND THEN A BOOK COMES ALONG THAT IS JUST SO TENDER, SO LOVELY, YOU CAN’T HELP THE EMOTIONS THAT ROLL THROUGH YOU…THIS IS ONE OF THOSE BOOKS.”
–The Good, The Bad and The Unread
“AN ABSOULTELY DELIGHTFUL TALE PENNED BY AN AUTHOR SURE TO MAKE A NAME FOR HERSELF.”
–Pamela Britton, Bestselling Author
“THE LOVE THAT UNFOLDS IN THIS TENDER AND EMOTIONAL STORY WILL TOUCH YOUR HEART. DON’T MISS THIS BREATHTAKING DEBUT.”
—Patty Berg, USA Today Bestselling Author
About the Author
Caroline Fyffe grew up in the little town of El Dorado, CA, the youngest of five girls and whose main interest was the family’s horses. An equine photographer for over twenty years now, she has worked throughout the United States and Germany. Long days in the arenas present plenty of opportunity to dream up all sorts of stories. Her love of horses and the Old West is the inspiration behind her books. Her debut book, WHERE THE WIND BLOWS, was the recipient of the prestigious Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart Award and also the Wisconsin RWA’s Write Touch Readers’ Award 2010. MONTANA DAWN was voted BEST WESTERN ROMANCE of 2010 by readers at Loves Western Romances! Married for many years, Caroline’s most cherished achievements are her two grown sons.
Visit Caroline at www.carolinefyffe.com
See her photographs at www.carolinefyffephoto.com
Write to her at [email protected]. She loves hearing from readers!
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to be thrust back in time, don’t miss Theresa Ragan’s spicy Medieval Time-Travel Romance! It will keep you smiling to the very end…
A KNIGHT IN CENTRAL PARK
The year is 1499. As Alexandra Dunn’s farmhouse is set ablaze, her grandfather places precious stones in her palm, telling her she has until the next full moon to return with a hero...a brave, chivalrous knight to help save her family. Familiar objects become a blur as she is swallowed in darkness. Suddenly Alexandra is standing in the middle of Central Park, but she has no time to ponder on the wondrous powers of the stones or the amazing sights before her...she must find a hero before all is lost.
Joe McFarland would be the first to admit that he’s far from hero material…definitely not the man she’s looking for. A firm believer of quietude and non-violence, he avoids conflict at all costs. At thirty-four, he is one of the younger Professors at NYU where he lectures and teaches History: The High Middle Ages. Joe’s main goal in life is to gain membership into the Medieval Academy, a highly distinguished group of archaeologists and historians. He believes membership will bring him respect and recognition…but what he really wants is to be reunited with his father; a man who has spent his entire life searching for the Black Knight, the last of the medieval knights.
Joe’s organized, well-structured life begins to unravel the moment he meets Alexandra Dunn. He figures she majored in medieval history before going off the deep end…until days later when he is miraculously transported through time, to 1499 England. Dressed in Dockers and a button down shirt, Joe thought he was ready for anything...anything but this! An armored man with a very authentic looking broadsword is about to strike him down. With only nail clippers and a Bic to defend himself, Joe has no time to think about such an implausible phenomenon as traveling through time…not if he wants to live to see another day.
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