Lawfully Matched (Texas Lawkeeper Romance)

by Lorana Hoopes

  As the social was being held in the barn not far from the church and the weather was fair, they decided to walk, but Kate had to stop at the wagon to grab her bread and cards. Then they joined the rest of the people heading toward the barn. It appeared nearly everyone in Sage Creek came out for socials.

  As they neared the entrance of the barn, Sarah waved from the doorway. “Kate,” she said, hurrying over. “I am so glad you were able to make it.”

  “Me too,” Kate said, smoothing her skirt with her free hand. “Though I’m a little nervous.”

  “There’s no need to be. I promise this will be a friendly crowd, right Deputy?” Sarah asked, turning to Jesse.

  “Yes ma’am,” Jesse nodded. “Jeb will be checking in to make sure no one from the saloon wanders over after too many drinks.”

  Kate knew he was referring to James, who still seemed to be harboring a grudge against them both, but she didn’t mind. Today, she was going to enjoy herself and not worry about James.

  “Come on,” Sarah said, tugging on Kate’s arm.

  Kate looked to Jesse, not sure what the protocol was.

  “Go on,” he said. “I’m going to do a quick walk around, and then I’ll come find you.”

  After saying goodbye to Jesse, she followed Sarah into the barn. There was a small band playing the banjo and harmonica on one side of the barn for the couples that wanted to dance. At the far back was a table filled with food, and on the left, tables had been set up for the recipe swap and general mingling.

  “Let’s drop your bread off first and then grab a table,” Sarah said, pulling Kate toward the back.

  Kate laughed and followed Sarah’s lead. For the first time in a long time, she felt lighthearted and carefree.

  “Kate? Oh, I’m so glad you’re here.”

  Kate turned to see Ellen coming toward them. “I wanted to apologize for James’s behavior,” she said, pulling Kate in for a hug. “When I heard what happened, I wanted to come and see you right away, but Iris has been sick.”

  “Oh, no, is she alright?” Kate asked.

  “Yes, I think it’s just exhaustion. She had been going nonstop to try to forget Pauline’s death, but when I finally made her take a break, her body told her she needed more rest. I think it’s partly why James has been drinking more lately. I’m afraid he thinks he’s going to lose her too. I was hoping maybe you could pray for all of us. I’ve been doing it, but I’m so new to this that I’m not sure I’m doing it right.”

  “There’s no right way to do it, but I’d be happy to, Ellen,” Kate said. “Why don’t you join Sarah and I for the recipe swap?”

  Ellen glanced over at the other young girl. “No,” she said. “I may be young at heart, but I think you need to be with women closer to your own age today. You girls have fun.”

  As Ellen walked away, Sarah pulled Kate over to the recipe swap area. “What did you bring?” she asked Kate.

  “My mother’s sourdough bread recipe,” Kate said. “What did you bring?”

  “A bread pudding recipe. I’m a much better baker than a cook which is odd since my folks own the cafe right?”

  “No, I get that,” Kate said. “My mother loved to sew, but she always dragged me to fabric stores with her. I hated sewing growing up. I am still not very good at it.”

  “But perhaps there’s hope for me yet?” Sarah asked with a smile.

  “Wait until you get married and have to be the cook. You’ll learn real fast,” Kate said with a chuckle.

  The girls laid out their cards and then meandered through the other tables, picking up cards for other mouthwatering recipes. Kate was pleased to find a few for main dishes as that was her weakness.

  When they had gathered all the cards, they walked to the back table to try some of the tantalizing food. The display was eclectic with everything from chili to savory desserts. After filling a plate with some, they headed back toward the table, but Jesse intercepted them on the way.

  “Perhaps Miss Miller can put your plate on the table for you as I’d like to dance with you,” Jesse said, taking her plate and passing it to Sarah before propelling Kate to the dance floor.

  “I can’t remember the last time I danced,” Kate began as Jesse moved her in a circle around the floor.

  “I’ve never been very good,” he said. “I hope I don’t step on your toes.”

  “Well, even if you do, I think I could forgive you.” Kate smiled up at him, enjoying the feel of his hand on her waist.

  He said nothing, but as he returned her smile, Kate realized again how handsome he was. His nose wasn’t exactly straight, but it complemented his strong jaw, and the warmth of his brown eyes softened the chiseled lines of his face.

  As the slower beat of the first song ended and a faster one began, Jesse didn’t let go of her but upped his tempo in turning her around the floor. He managed to only step on her toes once, but the look of intense concentration on his face tickled Kate so much that when the song ended, she found herself flushed and out of breath.

  “Can we go outside for a minute of fresh air?” she asked.

  Jesse nodded, and taking her arm, led her outside. The cooler air tamed the heat on her face and neck but did nothing for her parched throat. She cleared her throat, trying to ease the dryness that had taken root.

  “Would you like some punch?” Jesse asked. “I would be happy to fetch you some.”

  “I would love that,” Kate said. “I’ll just be out here catching my breath.”

  As Jesse ducked back into the barn, Kate leaned against the old rail fence and closed her eyes. Her trip out West may not have started on the best foot, but she was certainly content with it today.

  “You’re a hard woman to find, Miss Whidby.”

  Kate’s eyes snapped open at the dark, throaty voice that did not belong to her husband. Brown eyes met her gaze, but they were not the warm chocolate pools of Jesse’s eyes. They were instead a harsh and unforgiving brown like the desert, and they looked at her over the barrel of a Colt revolver.

  “My name isn’t Whidby any longer,” Kate said with a forced bravado. “It’s Jennings.”

  “You think just because you married someone else you don’t belong to me?” he laughed a cold, cruel sound that turned Kate’s blood cold. “I paid for you to come here. I own you, and if you were stupid enough to marry someone else, then it will be easy enough to end his life and free you up again.”

  “Why do you want a wife anyway?” Kate retorted. “Did you expect I would start robbing with you or just turn a blind eye?”

  “I expected you would do what I told you to do. You would cook my meals and clean my house and fulfill your wifely duties.”

  Kate shivered at the insinuation in his words. “You were stupid to come here. The sheriff and his men are looking for you.”

  “That may be, but that’s why I chose now. I know everyone is inside at the festivities and there’s no one patrolling today. Once I found you, it was just a matter of playing the waiting game. Now let’s get moving.”

  Kate glanced toward the door for Jesse. What was taking him so long?

  “I don’t think she’ll be going anywhere with you.”

  Kate sighed with relief at the sound of Jesse’s voice, but it was short lived as Bill grabbed her arm and swung her against his chest as he turned around. She saw just a flicker of fear enter Jesse’s eyes as she was made into a human shield.

  “I think I’ll be making the rules here,” Bill snarled. “Besides, why does she even matter to you? I’m sure you only married her for convenience.”

  The smell radiating off Bill was sour and acrid, and Kate could feel his sweat from the arm wrapped around her.

  “She does matter to me,” Jesse said, his eyes meeting Kate’s for a minute, “but more than that, you are also responsible for killing my fiancée and one of our deputies, so I am taking you in one way or another.”

  “Your fiancée? Oh, you mean the pretty blond who was shot when we robbed the ban
k? I can see why you’d be upset about that. She looked like she could keep a man happy.”

  Kate saw the veins in Jesse’s neck tighten. She had no idea how good of a shot he was or how accurate Bill was, but she also wasn’t sure how much longer Jesse could keep his composure with Bill speaking ill of Pauline. What she was sure of though was that due to her height, Bill’s left arm wasn’t able to reach across her chest enough to pin her right arm down, and she knew that his right arm had recently been injured. She just hoped Jesse would remember and understand her gesture.

  When Kate was sure she had Jesse’s eye, she flicked her eyes to the right in hopes he would remember Bill’s injury. Then, closing her eyes and praying, she flung her right arm up as hard and as fast as she could. When it collided with Bill’s right arm, she felt his left loosen and she dropped to the ground as one, then two gunshots went off.

  Kate clasped her hands over her ears as they began to ring from the noise and looked around. Bill lay on the ground behind her, a pool of red spreading across his chest. His eyes still held a look of shock. She turned to where Jesse should be standing, but he was also on the ground.

  “Jesse,” she cried as she scrambled over to him. There was no blood on his chest, but she ran her hands over it all the same feeling frantically for a wound.

  When her hands reached his face, his eyes opened. “Kate Whidby. That was either the dumbest thing or the bravest thing I’ve ever seen anyone do.”

  Kate smacked his chest, causing him to grunt. “Don’t scare me like that. I thought you were dead, and my name is Kate Jennings.”

  “So, it is,” he said with a smile.

  Moments later they were surrounded by half the town and peppered with questions. Jeb and Cody helped remove the body of Bill Easterly as Sheriff Johnson helped Jesse up.

  “You’re bleeding,” Kate gasped as she saw a red spot form in his sleeve.

  “It’s just a scratch,” Jesse said. “You knocked his arm wide enough that his bullet just grazed me.”

  “We still better get it looked at,” Sheriff Johnson said. “Everyone else can return to the social. The danger here is taken care of.”

  The crowd stepped back a few feet, but no one seemed eager to hurry back into the barn. People murmured amongst each other, trying to guess what had happened.

  * * *

  Doc Moore emerged from the crowd and led the way to his office. “Let’s get that shirt off, Jesse, and take a look at that arm,” he said as Jesse sat on the cot in the room.

  Jesse had barely felt the graze, but as he lifted his arm to begin unbuttoning his shirt, an achy sensation descended on his arm. He tried not to grimace, but from the look on Kate’s face as she watched, he hadn’t been entirely successful. After another few jabs of pain, he managed to get his sleeve off.

  While Doc Moore examined and cleaned the wound, Jesse’s eyes drifted to Kate. She was so unlike Pauline, not only from her dark hair and blue eyes but to her personality. He couldn’t imagine Pauline doing what Kate had done. Though he still loved Pauline—he figured he always would—he realized there was room in his heart to care for Kate as well. Maybe in not quite the same way, but Jesse thought their marriage could not only be successful but happy and fulfilling as well.

  “You’re very lucky,” Doc Moore said as he wound the bandage around Jesse’s arm. “The bullet missed your bone, but it did go through a little of your muscle. It will heal, but you may be sore for a month or so, and you should take it easy with this arm for at least that long.”

  “Yes, sir,” Jesse nodded. He was glad to see the fear had gone from Kate’s eyes at the doctor’s proclamation of his health.

  “I know you said you weren’t injured, Kate,” Doc Moore said, turning to her, “but I’d like to check your ears and do a quick examination to be sure.”

  As Kate nodded, Jesse, and the sheriff exited the office to give her some privacy.

  “I’m sure Ellen will let him know, but I suppose I better find James and tell him we got Pauline’s killer,” the sheriff said.

  “Actually, sir, would it be alright if I did that?” Jesse asked. “We’ve had our share of disagreements, but I’d really like to be the one to give him the news.”

  The sheriff nodded, and a moment later, the door opened, and Kate exited. “I’ll walk with you,” Sheriff Johnson said, “as I’m sure he’s in the saloon and Miss Kate doesn’t need to be in there.”

  “Where are we going?” Kate asked, looking from one man to the other.

  “To tell James we got Easterly,” Jesse said.

  The sheriff led the way, and while he went inside, Jesse and Kate waited outside the saloon. A moment later, they heard James’s deep voice protesting, “I don’t want to see Jesse.”

  “You will for this,” came the sheriff’s voice.

  Jesse’s sullen face appeared in the doorway, followed by Sheriff Johnson’s.

  “James, I know you blame me for Pauline’s death,” Jesse began, “but I promised her I would find her killer. I wanted to let you know that we did. His name was Bill Easterly, and he came here tonight, but with Kate’s help,” he flashed her a smile, “we were able to outsmart him. He’s dead, James. It’s over.”

  James looked from Jesse to Kate to the sheriff. Though he had obviously been drinking, his face sobered. “He’s dead? You really got him?”

  Jesse nodded, surprised to see liquid forming in James’s eyes.

  “Good,” James said, and walked back into the saloon.

  Jesse watched him go and shook his head.

  “Now, you two go home and get some rest,” Sheriff Johnson said to Jesse and Kate, “but I want you both at the office tomorrow to give your account of what happened. I’ll make sure James gets home and inform the Mastersons what happened. I hope it can give them some peace.”

  “Yes sir,” Jesse said. As he turned to Kate, he held out his good hand. “I guess we better follow orders and get on home.”

  “There’s no place I’d rather be,” Kate said putting her hand in his.

  Epilogue

  “Tell me again why we’re doing this,” Jesse said as he buttoned his shirt.

  “Because they’re our friends, and they didn’t get to come to our wedding. Well, except for Jeb and Sheriff Johnson and the Davises that is,” Kate said. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and turned from the mirror. “Besides our last night of dancing was cut short. Now, we get another chance.”

  Jesse grabbed her hand and pulled her up to his chest. “You know we could dance right here.” He spun her in a circle around the bedroom.

  “Stop,” Kate said with a laugh. “Come on now. Sarah will be hurt if we don’t show up. She and Ellen planned the whole celebration.”

  “I know,” Jesse groaned playfully. “That’s what I’m worried about.”

  Kate batted his arm, which was now fully healed, and grabbed his hand, pulling him out of the door.

  * * *

  The barn had been decorated with white flowers and lace. Lanterns created a romantic atmosphere as Kate and Jesse entered the wide doors.

  “Congratulations,” Sarah cried, running over to Kate and enveloping her in a hug.

  “You do know we’ve been married for months now, right Miss Miller?” Jesse asked.

  Sarah shot him a look. “Yes, but now the whole town supports your marriage. Look, even James showed up.”

  As if on cue, the large man limped over. His foot was nearly healed, but evidently the break had been bad enough that he would have a slight limp the rest of his life.

  “I wanted to say I’m sorry, Jesse,” James began, “and you too, Kate.” He glanced at her under lowered lids. “I was wrong to blame you, and I’m glad you were able to get justice for Pauline.”

  “I am too,” Jesse said, sticking out his hand. James looked at it for a moment before returning the shake with his own.

  Kate smiled at the scene. God really could work miracles.

  As more of the townsmen came up to
speak to Jesse, Kate let Sarah lead her to the side where the women were congregated. Kate was surprised to see the girl who had shunned her in the store her first day in town standing in the middle of the women.

  “I don’t think we’ve officially met,” the girl said, stepping forward. She didn’t offer a hand though. They stayed behind her back. “I’m Rebecca, and Pauline was my best friend. I’m sorry for the way I treated you, and I wanted,” she looked around her, “we wanted to tell you how brave we think you are. You’ve kind of become a role model.” She brought her arms forward, revealing a wrapped package.

  Kate took the package and looked around at all the women.

  “Open it,” they said.

  Kate tore the paper back and lifted the lid. Inside was a beautiful quilt.

  “We each brought a square of fabric from home and sewed it together,” Sarah said. “It’s a wedding quilt for your bed. Sorry we couldn’t invite you this time, but we hope you’ll join us for the next quilting bee.”

  Tears welled up in Kate’s eyes as she regarded each of the women she now considered a friend. “Thank you,” she said, her voice choked with emotion. “This means so much to me.”

  “Well, you mean a great deal to us,” Ellen said, coming to her side. “See, I told you they’d love you when they got to know you,” she whispered in Kate’s ear.

  Kate nodded, feeling happier than she could remember being in a long time.

  A few minutes later, she was reunited with Jesse as Sarah brought out a large wedding cake. They cut the cake amid cheers from the crowd, and then Jesse grabbed her hand and led her to the dance floor.

  “Alright, I have to admit,” he said, “I do enjoy parties, especially when they give me an excuse to dance with you.”

  “Me too,” she said, smiling up at him. “Oh, I forgot to tell you. I finally got a letter back from my brother.”

  “That’s wonderful,” he said as he twirled her around. “How is he doing?”

  “Well,” she said with a mischievous smile, “it turns out I’m going to be an aunt soon.”