“That’s enough!” Kiowa shouted, angry with the man and his accusations. “I’m evicting you from your building. You leave town by tomorrow night!”
“What are you ranting about? I rent the building from Isaac Connely. You probably don’t have two nickels to rub together. You’re living off your wife’s income,” Tolbert spat back.
Kiowa crossed his arms over his chest and sneered at Tolbert. He was ready to tell his secret just to see the shock on Tolbert’s face.
“Did you ever wonder who put the money up to build the new block of buildings on Main Street?” Kiowa started his revelation. “You might have thought it was Connely because you pay your rent to him, but Connely only put in ten percent of the funds needed.”
The crowd quieted, anticipating an announcement.
“Kiowa, are you sure you want to say this?” Mary asked as she tugged on his hand. She had rolled her chair to his side.
Kiowa looked down at Mary, knowing she’d back him with her support, as would others in town. “Yes, Mary, I am. I’m tired of hiding myself and my worth.”
Kiowa turned back to Tolbert. “I’m Connely’s silent partner. I paid ninety percent of the building costs of the downtown project and, in return I get the same percent of rent from each business.
“As the main landlord, I have the right to evict anyone I want. Read your contract,” Kiowa said with glee.
“I don’t believe you! You’re lying!” Tolbert roared back.
“He’s telling the truth, Tolbert,” Isaac Connely worked his way through the crowd. He and his wife, Cate, were in church when the fire scare started and had apparently stayed in town rather than go back to their country home.
“Kiowa Jones invested his money into the expansion of Clear Creek’s downtown. He does own ninety percent of the buildings on your block and has say as to who can rent the downstairs businesses and live in the upstairs apartments.”
“Mr. Jones owns our barbershop and home?” Mrs. Tolbert gasped.
Kiowa hated to turn anyone away from their home, but this family had been given chance after chance to become a part of Clear Creek, and they just refused to be respectful citizens.
“Yes, our partnership does own your building. I will have Lawyer Elison serve you the necessary papers to evict you, so I suggest you start packing, Mrs. Tolbert,” Connely gave a respectful nod to the woman.
Kiowa was glad Connely had taken over the conversation for him. Kiowa was ready to go upstairs in his building and toss Tolberts’ belongings out of the window onto the street below.
“But we can’t leave if Herbert’s in jail!” Mrs. Tolbert, at least, was thinking about their predicament. Tolbert was just staring at Kiowa with daggers in his eyes.
“Since he admitted his crimes, Herbert will be sent to the county jail where he’ll be sentenced. I don’t know where he’ll serve his time after that.”
“But he’s just a boy!” Mrs. Tolbert cried.
“Who set two buildings on fire on purpose,” the Marshal added. “Mack, take Herbert to jail since you have a good hold on him.”
“Mr. Jones, please! Don’t let Herbert go to jail! He’s only sixteen years old,” the woman pleaded with Kiowa.
“His actions caused costly damage and could have killed people. Herbert needs to be responsible for them. Maybe if you and your husband hadn’t poisoned his mind, but…” Kiowa answered with a shake of his head. There was no use justifying or arguing with this family.
“Watch out!” Someone called out just as Kiowa turned to talk to Mary. Kiowa was knocked to the ground because Tolbert had lowered his head and plowed into Kiowa’s middle, knocking the air out of him.
But an instant later, as Kiowa lay in the dirt wheezing to get his air, Tolbert was already being lifted off him by the Marshal and Seth Reagan.
“While you got a hold of Tolbert, please take him to jail too,” Marshal shook his head in disgust. “I’m sorry, Kiowa. I didn’t sense he was going to attack you.”
“Are you all right?” Mary asked as she put a hand on his shoulder where he sat on the ground.
“Yeah, although I’m embarrassed I didn’t see him coming at me. I would have liked to have stopped him with my fist,” Kiowa grimaced as he rubbed his mid-section.
Cullen held out his hand to Kiowa. “You were looking out for your lovely bride instead.”
Kiowa took Cullen’s hand and let him pull him upright, although he was still gasping for air.
“That I was,” Kiowa said as he watched the crowd disperse, even though they were looking back at him. He brushed the dust off his backside, not that it mattered since his burned clothing was ruined anyway.
Mary stared at Kiowa a moment, then reached out her hand to him. “You just changed our lives by announcing who owns the downtown buildings.”
Kiowa stared at her, worried now that he did the wrong thing.
“Oh, don’t worry, we’ll survive, but you might have some people asking for handouts now that they know you’re a rich man,” Mary said with a hint of smile.
“Most people still won’t believe ‘half-breed Kiowa Jones’ is a wealthy man, but that’s all right by me. I still want to keep a low profile, if possible.”
“I think that all changed between people finding out we’re married, and you own a block of downtown,” Mary laughed, and Kiowa finally felt a sense of relief.
Kiowa got back down on one knee and hugged his wife. Everything was going to be all right. And if more problems surfaced, they’d face them together.
Chapter 14
Two months later
“Everyone gather around Kiowa, Mary, and the children,” Pastor Reagan said as he motioned to the people in the room. “Make a circle, please.”
Kiowa shrugged his shoulders when Mary glanced up at him. Apparently he didn’t know what Pastor was up to either.
Their house was finished, and they decided to have a house-warming to celebrate. The living room was packed with all the Shepard and Reagan families, let alone their other friends.
“Because I didn’t get to marry you…” Pastor said with a grin, “I want to bless this house and your family now.”
“Oh, Pastor, we’d love that,” Mary said as she reached for Kiowa’s hand and Burdette’s. Kiowa wrapped his free arm around Nolie and pulled the boy in front of him.
Before they moved into the house, Kiowa walked through each room with a smoking bundle of dried sage to purify the rooms, as he remembered his Native grandmother doing when he was young. Kiowa couldn’t remember what she said, but knew it was important for his grandmother’s peace of mind, so he wanted to do it too.
“Kiowa mentioned remembering his grandmother’s ceremony to cleanse her home, and I also remembered a saying my Irish grandfather used when someone moved into a new house. I might have changed the words around in my memory, but I’d like to say it now.
“May you have walls for the wind, a roof for the rain, and drinks beside the fire. May you have laughter to cheer you, those you love near you, and be blessed with all that your heart may desire,” Pastor concluded with a nod.
“I like that, Pastor, thank you,” Kiowa said as he squeezed Mary’s hand and looked down at her. “I have been blessed by coming back to my native state, not only for this home and community but most all for my family and this room of friends.”
“I’m glad we came back to Kansas, too. Thank you so much, everyone, for all your help and support while we’ve dealt with our problems,” Mary said, trying to keep her tears at bay. The four of them would have gotten by, but the acts of kindness from this group of family and friends made their struggles manageable.
“Wait. Don’t everyone rush to the table of food in the kitchen yet. I’m not done,” Pastor announced as the younger people turned to leave. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to give a sermon.”
Pastor waited for the chuckles and murmurs around the room to subside before continuing.
“Dear Lord, please bless this house and all who live within it. Thank you
for the roof and walls which keep out the wind and rain, and the windows which let the glorious sunshine in.
“Bless this family as they eat, sleep, and enjoy life in this house. May they keep warm, nourished, and know your peace. In your name, Amen.”
“Thank you, Pastor, we appreciate the blessing. And everything you and Kaitlyn have done for us this spring and summer.”
Even though Mary still had to use her rolling chair, this home had given her freedom to move around and function as best she could as a wife and mother.
Some movement had returned to her right leg, but Doctor Pansy warned her it would take time to walk again. At least there was a chance now that she might eventually get around with crutches or a cane instead of the chair. And if not, Mary had faced the facts that this was her life now.
Mary had never guessed falling down the stairs one rainy morning would change their lives so much. Burdette’s leg had healed from its break, but Mary was still disabled.
Their living arrangements had changed from her and her children living upstairs over her shop, to this remodeled home. Maggie, Molly, and Maisie Brenner, Sarah and Marcus Brenner’s daughters, moved in from the Cross C Ranch and were taking over Mary’s dress shop and apartment.
Kiowa had put the blacksmith shop for sale and had some inquires but didn’t have a buyer yet. His silversmithing now took residence in a specially-equipped room in the new house addition.
But the biggest change in their lives was that she and Kiowa were finally living together as a married couple. Mary had had young love with Nolan Clancy, but had her head turned by bank clerk, Abram Jenkins, who was leaving Clear Creek for Chicago.
Mary thought marrying the up-and-coming banker and living in their up-scale home was giving her the best in life. Unfortunately, there wasn’t passion in the marriage, and after her husband died, her lavish home lacked the sense of home that Clear Creek did.
Then Mary and the children moved home, and quiet Kiowa sparked the emotions she’d been missing in both past relationships. He fought their mutual attraction at first, but over time they fell in love, and married. The best thing that happened from Mary’s accident was the realization they needed to live their lives together as a family.
Burdette pulled away from Mary’s hand, chatting with her friend about seeing her room. And Nolie took off for the sweets on the table as soon as Pastor was done addressing the group around them.
“I think your friends have taken over the parlor, Mary. I’ll get you a cup of coffee while you join them,” Kiowa said after he kissed her hand and turned away. The man showed her affection and respect at every turn and was such a good example for Burdette and Nolie.
“Mary, I’m sorry that I ever doubted you’d have a good marriage with Kiowa. He is so wonderful to you,” Darcie stated as Mary entered the parlor.
“Isn’t he? I’m so lucky,” Mary beamed at her mother.
Mary counted her blessings every day now. Kiowa had promised to love, honor and take care of her forever, and he’d kept his oath.
Kiowa was truly a groom of honor, and she was so happy they were finally together.
***
Kiowa looked around at the couples filling his and Mary’s home. Some of them grew up in Clear Creek and others moved in from elsewhere, but they all had unique experiences with their courtship and marriage now that Kiowa thought about it.
Nolan Clancy met his wife, Holly, in a Montana café when he was stranded during a snowstorm on his way home to Clear Creek. Kiowa and Holly, being a half-breed herself, had forged a kinship from the beginning. Kiowa ushered Holly down the church aisle for her and Nolan’s wedding. The Clancy’s worked together in the café his grandparents, Dan and Edna Clancy, started when the town was new in 1868.
Elof Lundahl, who knew Nolan when they were fellow soldiers in Montana, met his wife, Linnea, in a Montana cemetery. He was putting an iron cross on Holly’s father’s grave, which Kiowa had made and shipped up there. Linnea, a just married mail-order bride, was burying her husband in the same cemetery after the man died in a barn fire. Elof was traveling to Kansas to locate near Nolan, so he brought Linnea, and her stepson with him. Elof and Linnea married, and Elof was the area farrier.
Angus Reagan and Daisy Clancy grew up together in Clear Creek, but both moved out of state to pursue careers. Angus was a train detective in Colorado, and Daisy worked in a Denver pharmacy when they, by chance, ended up on the same train during a robbery. They moved back to Clear Creek after the incident. Angus was now the train depot manager and Daisy had her own apothecary shop.
Fergus Reagan, a photographer, saved his wife, Iris, after she jumped off a moving train into a river in Nebraska to get away from her abusive fiancée. They ran the Reagan Photography Studio in Clear Creek now.
Iris’ brother, Jasper Kerns, found his Kentucky plantation childhood friend, Julip, because Holly Clancy had met her in Montana. The couple settled in Clear Creek to be with Iris’ family. Besides helping Mack Reagan with his building construction, Jasper built furniture and Julip wove rugs to sell in their home furnishings store.
“The addition to the house turned out well, don’t you think?” Mack asked as he surveyed the back of the room.
“You did a great job. Thanks for getting it done so quickly,” Kiowa said as he raised his coffee cup to salute his friend.
Mack Reagan not only built this house addition, but Kiowa’s buildings downtown too. The big burly man, and his wife, Doctor Pansy, had been great friends to him through the years, besides helping so much with Kiowa’s family’s needs since the accident.
Mack’s brother, Cullen, had worked on their house in the evenings too after working at the post office all day. And Cullen’s wife, Rose, a former circus performer but now the town’s librarian, had visited Mary and Burdette often, bringing books for them to read during their convalescence.
“I should have brought more sliced meat for your housewarming, Kiowa,” Adolph Bjorklund, the town’s butcher said as he surveyed the crowded room. The older lonely butcher invited himself to Sunday noon meals at the Reagan’s parsonage for years before Kaitlyn finally ordered a mail-order bride for Adolph. Poppy, Adolph’s bride from back woods Tennessee, turned the man’s life upside down with her bubbly but simple outlook on life.
“I’m sure Poppy is keeping an eye on the food table, Adolph,” Seth, another Reagan brother, assured the man. “Our wives are very independent and self-reliant.”
Seth was talking of his own experience. He met his wife, Lily, a Swedish immigrant, singing in a Chicago saloon when Seth was in town for a livestock exhibition and sale. Lily had raised horses on a well-known ranch in Sweden and knew as much about raising horses as Seth did. Together they managed the Straight Arrow Horse Ranch north of Clear Creek.
“I never figured you’d be my brother-in-law and live in such a fancy house, Kiowa,” Gabe walked up and laid a hand on Kiowa’s shoulder. “Of course, knowing my sister’s tastes in fine things, I guess I should have known.”
“Gabe, I can’t believe you didn’t see that they were in love,” Iva Mae, Gabe’s wife, ribbed him.
“I don’t have eyes in the back of my head like you do,” Gabe teased back. Iva Mae, a former schoolteacher and the oldest daughter of Helen Paulson, pursued Gabe since he was too shy to court her and they’d been happily married for five years. Kiowa couldn’t ask for better in-laws than the Shepard family.
*
Kiowa glanced at the front door, which was being opened for the umpteenth time today. He figured it was some of the dozen or so children who were making themselves at home, but the couple walking in the door was a surprise to everyone.
“Tully and Violet! You’re home!” Kaitlyn Reagan called out as her son and daughter-in-law walked into the living room.
“I heard there was a party we needed to attend,” Tully said as he hugged his parents.
“We just got off the train from Wyoming. It was a glorious place to explore,” Violet gushed as she made h
er greetings around the room full of people.
Tully was a travel writer for the Chicago Tribune and exploring Yellowstone National Park had been his first assignment. Kiowa bet Tully, and his effervescent tomboy wife, had the time of their lives camping and exploring the wilderness. The couple had been friends since childhood and both went to school in Chicago. This spring they came home, announcing they’d married, and left to explore the country.
Kiowa watched as Pastor and Kaitlyn interacted with their sons and their wives as they gathered around Tully and Violet. The older couple influenced every couple here by example and with their guidance.
Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, be faithful unto her as long as you both shall live?
The question Pastor Reagan asked at every wedding popped in Kiowa’s mind. Kiowa had said his vows to Mary, and he’d teach Nolie to honor and respect women just as Pastor had shown Kiowa and so many other young men to do too.
Mary rolled up beside Kiowa and reached for his hand.
“It’s so good to have our family and friends around us, Kiowa. Should we share our news with them now?”
Kiowa looked at his beaming wife. The love of his life had recently told him something which had sent his world spinning. He was going to be a father next year.
“Yes, I’m ready to announce the upcoming addition to our family whenever you are,” Kiowa raised Mary’s hand and kissed it.
Kiowa worked with diamonds as he made his jewelry, but there was no precious stone worth the value of his wife and family. He was so blessed…
~*~*~*~
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Want to read the beginning of in the fictional town of Clear Creek, Kansas? Keep reading for the start of Rania Ropes a Rancher, the first book in the Brides with Grooms Series! (Then go read it all! And, the whole series is free in KU.)
Rania Ropes a Rancher
Grooms with Honor Series, Books 10-12 Page 23
