With a sigh, she said, "How does a young, innocent woman tell her father no? Now look at me. I've gone from living a comfortable life, to being a bounty hunter. Not the life I envisioned for myself. All because I married the wrong man."
Examples of marriage were like dessert or disaster, apple pie or a destructive tornado. While his parents’ union had been a happy one, his sister had been a young widow who also tied the knot with the smooth-talking shyster. Yet, as a result of both marriages, she had these beautiful babies. But he could easily see the folly of marrying someone not suitable. A life stuck with a husband or wife that mistreated or didn't love you would be such a waste of years.
Standing, he pulled his bedroll closer to hers and threw another log on the fire as he crawled inside his blankets. Still close enough to watch the children, but where hopefully they could be honest with one another without them listening.
Unable to resist and needing to feel her flesh, he reached over and laid his hand on her arm. "When Leo was here tonight, I feared any moment you would pull out your gun and show him the kind of damage you could inflict. After all, he wouldn't be expecting it from you."
"The thought crossed my mind. There are three innocents who don't deserve to witness such violence. Now if we had been alone, he'd be a dead man."
The thought of her either hanging or spending the rest of her life in prison terrified him. Leo wasn't worth ruining her life over, and yet, the man definitely deserved to be punished. How did you balance evil versus revenge?
No matter what, Jesse wanted to kill Leo for poisoning Ida, but there were three people who depended on him. Three people who he would not let become orphans.
"You can't kill him," he said. "The man has done nothing wrong."
Her arm tensed, and for a moment, he thought she would jump up. "Stealing my inheritance isn't something? Marrying another woman while he's married isn't something? Killing his wife with his deadly miracle drink isn't something?"
If she didn't lower her voice, she would have three little ones asking questions. He hissed. "Shhh! Don't wake the children."
"Oh, I'm sorry, my life has been destroyed. Excuse me for getting a little rowdy. And let's not forget the dead preacher’s wife."
The woman had a sharp tongue, but he liked her spunk. And she was right, Leo had stolen so much from her, but she needed to stop and think like a lawman, like a juror.
"Think carefully. Were you married when you received your inheritance? At the time, he was your husband and the law is going to say he didn't steal that money. Because of the marriage, the cash belonged to him to spend anyway he wanted."
The sound of cicadas and crickets and all the night creatures echoed about them. In the firelight, he watched her wiping away angry tears.
"Damn you, Jesse," she whispered. "What you're saying isn't fair."
"I agree, but it's the law," he said. "To be honest, I'm anxious for the kids’ sake. You're the legal wife, so if something happens to him, the land will go to you, not the children. All I ask is that you consider their welfare."
Though Jesse would never lie to her, he worried about his nieces and nephew. No, he would never try to steal the property from Dora, but he would make certain they had a place to live. They had lost so much, why should they lose their home as well?
"Well, thanks for being honest with me. But he's still in trouble for bigamy. Remember, he married me and then he married your sister."
Before he said a word, he knew she was not going to like what he would say. Still, she needed to stare the facts in the face, even as ugly as they appeared. "Yes, but Ida is dead. Problem solved. The law is looking for more desperate killers. What sheriff is going to spend their time chasing after a man who likes women?"
While he hated being honest with her, he wanted her to understand the legalities of what she was facing. Right now, they had nothing on Leo. Absolutely nothing.
"So basically, you're trying to gently tell me there is nothing I can legally do to Leo? That he won't be wanted by the law for what he's done to me?"
Slowly he moved his hand down her arm to her hand and he picked it up. "In the eyes of the law, you are still married to him. Not much you can do to him."
"What about your sister's death. Ida died because of his poisonous drink."
"And how are we going to prove that?"
Over and over, he thought about Ida's sudden passing and he wanted to see Leo swinging from a noose. The law would not take his word she died from Leo's miracle cure. Until someone else, probably more than one person died, then they had something to convict him on.
Right now, the only thing on Leo was the man was a lying, cheating scoundrel. The world was filled with men like him.
With a quick glance at the children who slept soundly, he sighed. "For their sakes, I want to avenge her death. As much as I want to kill him, I can't. He's their father and they love him. Someday they may learn how truly bad he is, but until then, those kids think he's the best dad in the world."
With a dejected sigh, she dropped her head almost to her chest. "I'm just the woman that showed up and destroyed their last hope of happiness."
Unfortunately, what she said was true. Because if he died, she inherited the land. Right now, there was no reason the law wanted Leo, though two people passed from his miracle cure. Jesse's focus needed to remain on the children. So why was he still pursuing Leo?
"Should we call off the hunt?" he asked, thinking maybe the time had come for him to return to the farm where his nieces and nephew would be safe.
In the firelight, her face appeared a mask of confusion and pain and he realized she would never give up on capturing him.
"I'm going to continue on," she said. "He's not going to give up selling that rotgut poison and people are going to die. Sooner or later, the law is going to go after him and I'm going to get him first."
With a sigh, he laid back and considered his options. She was correct. The miracle cure was killing people, but Leo didn't care. He just wanted the money. Eventually, another innocent would die from the poison. Jesse realized that they needed to stop him, but the only way would be to destroy his drink.
"Maybe, we should go after him with the thought of destroying the miracle cure. If he doesn't have the product, he can't kill anyone else," he said.
"That's not a bad plan. Long as we reach him in time," she said.
"All right, we'll continue on. Day after tomorrow, we should make it to Dallas, and I'll leave the children there. I promised my sister I would make certain they were taken care of and I will honor my promise to her."
More than ever, he was determined those three kids would have a decent normal life without their father. After what he witnessed tonight, he didn't want Leo anywhere near them.
Before they reached Dallas, Grace and he were going to have a discussion on never putting herself in harm’s way again. The child needed to understand her father used her and would continue doing so if she allowed him.
"You will," Dora said, lying down in the darkness, pulling back from him. "I'm married to a man who stole from me, married another woman, and led me to believe he was dead. There's nothing the law is going to do to him."
At the sadness in her voice, Jesse leaned over and stared down at her, the reflections from the fire dancing over her face. "Somewhere soon, he's going to make a miscalculation that will send him to jail."
"Yes," she said. "Even then, I may be attached to him for the rest of my life."
Jesse knew what she said was true, but he didn't want her to remain with Leo.
"Oh, I hope not," he said as his mouth came down on hers. His lips told her what he was feeling, what he could not express. As his lips moved over hers, his heart clenched with a tightness never felt before, and yet, his mind reminded him he was kissing a married woman. That was wrong. No matter that her husband had cheated on her, she remained attached by vows they said in church.
With a reluctance he didn't want to admit, he pulled away from h
er.
A moment later, she rose and glared at him. "Don't kiss me again, Jesse. No matter what, even if I don't want to accept it, I'm married. My vows are sacred to me. We can't be together."
"Agreed," he said, disappointment curling like a rattler inside him, gripping his stomach. The words she said were true. He didn't want to hear them, and he most certainly didn't want to obey them. Yet, she was right.
With a sigh, she lay down on her pallet and turned her back to him.
Hours passed before he finally fell asleep and dreamed of a blonde woman with sapphire eyes who wore two pistols at her side.
The next morning, Dora cooked breakfast for everyone while Jesse fed and watered their horses and Ella picked up the bedding, storing the kids’ sleeping bags in the wagon. Grace dressed the baby. After seeing her father last night, Grace acted more remote than usual.
"Grace, would you bring me the bread? I thought I'd fix toast this morning," she said as she stood over the fire, frying eggs.
The girl shoved the sack at her, and she glanced at her. "Is there something wrong?"
"Don't think I don't know what you're doing," the young girl said. "You and my uncle are making eyes at each other. He won't leave us for you."
The words and her attitude ticked Dora off. Yes, the child had been through a lot in the last couple of months, but that didn't give her a reason for being rude. And while there were sparks between her and Jesse, they were both well aware she wore a wedding ring and therefore, strictly off limits.
"You're right. Your uncle would never leave you. And I would never ask him to. While he may be making eyes at me, that doesn't mean anything is going to come from this flirtation. I'm married. As much as I dislike my husband, I would never cheat on our vows. Not with Jesse, not with any man, so you're worrying about nothing."
The kid looked shocked. "You're married?"
Dora flipped the eggs, so badly wanting to tell her to whom, but knowing that would only crush the girl even more. What good could come out of Grace realizing her stepfather, the man she adored, was a louse?
"Yes," Dora said almost hissing. "Ever since I came, you fear I'm going to become your mother. I would be honored to have a daughter like you, but it's not going to happen, so you need to stop worrying."
How would the child feel if she learned she was married to her stepfather?
"But you and Uncle Jesse kissed," she said.
Nothing got by this kid. How did she explain that in life you sometimes went the wrong way, but realized you needed to come back to the right path?
"Yes, but that kiss was a mistake. For the last five years I believed I was a widow. Suddenly, I learn my husband is alive and well," she said, hoping she hadn't told Grace too much.
The girl frowned at her. "You came to our house looking for Papa. Why?"
"Because we have business to discuss."
"So why are you still after him? We would all be better off if you weren't here. Why don't you leave?"
That question she asked herself all night. Why didn't she ride off without Jesse and the children this morning? She had no reason to stay and aid him.
Being around these precious kids only reminded her she would never have a family of her own. Not to mention gazing at a tempting man who she wanted to kiss her.
"Maybe I will," she said. "That way, you can help your uncle care for the kids, and I can be on my way. That way you won't be afraid of me becoming your mother any longer. That way, you won't be worried about me marrying your uncle Jesse."
She slid the fried eggs on plates and took them to Ben and Ella who sat on a pallet on the ground watching Grace and Dora, their eyes large.
Then Dora walked over to her sleeping roll and began to pack up her belongings, hoping she would finish before Jesse returned.
Maybe Grace was right. Maybe she just tagged along praying for a miracle. Maybe the time had come for her to strike out on her own. Leaving now, she would no longer be tempted by Jesse and his family. Leaving on her own, if she found Leo, she could kill him.
Somewhere she'd grown soft. After this morning, it was past time to become the bounty hunter she was meant to be. Time to strap on her guns and go in search of the man who needed to be brought to justice, even if the law was unprepared for him.
"Dora," Grace called her voice trembling.
The time for talking was over, Dora had made her decision.
Hauling her gear, she went to her horse and saddled up, grateful Jesse was nowhere around. Because he would talk her into staying and she had overstayed her welcome. This way Grace would have her tight-knit family back. While Jesse took the children to his aunts, she would be on Leo's trail.
Swinging her leg over the saddle, she got comfortable and then kicked the mare's sides. "Let's go, girl. Time to move on."
Jesse walked back into camp and the kids were all staring glumly, picking at their fried eggs. "Where's Dora?"
Grace shrugged, her eyes not meeting his. "Don't know."
A quick glance around and he noticed her sleeping roll, horse, and all her gear were gone.
Gazing at all three of the children, from their expressions, he knew something happened. Ella sat glum faced, staring down at her plate. Even Ben appeared dejected.
"Bye bye," the baby said.
"Grace, you're the oldest. The one I depend on the most. What am I missing here?"
Like she couldn’t care less, she didn’t respond. The girl’s defiant attitude clued him in that whatever happened with Dora, she was being tight lipped.
Finally Ella spoke up. "Grace and Dora got into a fight. Miss Dora decided to leave," Ella said, glancing between Grace and himself.
Just what he didn't need, arguing between his niece and a woman he greatly admired. "Is this true?"
"Yes, sir," she said.
"What were you two in a disagreement about?"
"Nothing," Grace replied.
Staring at each one, he realized Ella knew and she was dying to tell him. Grace sent her sister a withering glare, one that warned of retribution.
"If you don't tell me, I'm going to ask Ella. It would be much better if you told me," he said.
The child gazed down at her feet, her eyes not meeting his.
"She's afraid you're going to marry Dora," Ella blurted out.
"What makes you think that?" Jesse said, wondering why his niece would be upset if he married Dora.
"We saw the two of you kissing," Grace replied, glancing up at him daring him to deny that spectacular kiss.
How could he handle this delicately without making things even worse? Or without losing Dora. The woman had enough spunk in her to fill two women and he wanted her by his side. Now he didn't have Dora and three sets of eyes gazed at him to explain.
"Sometimes a man and a woman kiss. It's a way to see if they like each other."
"Do you like Dora?"
"Well, yes," he said.
"Are you going to marry her?" Ella asked.
"He can't, silly. She's married," Grace said.
Dora told them she was married. But did she tell them to whom? With any luck at all, her husband would soon be dead.
Tears ran down Ella's cheeks, and she wailed.
"Why are you crying?" he asked, thinking maybe this parenting thing was something he wanted no part of.
"I wanted her to be our new momma," Ella said, crying at the top of her lungs.
Standing, he went to her and picked her up in his arms. "She is a nice lady, isn't she?"
"Yes," Ella sobbed as he comforted her.
Somehow there had to be more to this argument than his niece was telling him.
"Why would you object to us getting married? Your brother and sister would have a mother and there might be more children. She would never take your mother's place, but if she made me happy, why would you care?" he said, mystified at Grace's reaction to Dora. "What did you say that sent her running?"
Grace hung her head again and he realized she didn't want to tell him
, but Ella's face appeared frustrated and hurt, and she looked him in the eye and said, "She told her to leave. Grace said we would all be better if she weren't here. Why don't you leave?" Ella sighed. "Dora said maybe she should go and she did."
This was the kind of thing Jesse hated. This was the part of parenting he didn't like, but someone had to let Grace know she had overstepped her bounds.
"I'm very disappointed in you, Grace. Last night you let your father use you as a shield so he could escape and this morning, you run off Dora. The next time you cause trouble or disobey, you'll receive a spanking. Are we clear?"
"Yes, sir," she said quietly. "But Papa told me to stand in front of him."
"That was wrong. Leo used you to protect himself from Dora's bullet. No decent father uses their child to hide behind. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir," she said, tears welling up in her eyes.
"How do you think your mother would have handled this situation?"
No, it wasn't a fair question, but it was a test to see if she realized she had done wrong.
The little girl swallowed before her sister said with delight. "Momma would have spanked her."
Grace glared at her. "Ella," she said in a threatening whisper.
"That's two strikes against you, Grace. One more and you'll be punished."
"Yes, sir," she said.
Jesse still didn't understand the argument, but something sent Dora running.
Had she had enough of the kids? After all, she acted like she didn't want any. Yet, he'd seen her with them, and she would make an excellent mother. First, he had to let the children eat and then he had to try to find Dora and convince her to continue riding with them.
As soon as they reached Dallas, he needed some time to figure out what was going on with Dora and these kids. One moment, she seemed to want to step into the role of their mother and the next she retreated as far as she could.
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