Brady (Bachelors and Babies Book 15)

by Copelin, Carra

  “Really?”

  “Yes, do you think you could do that … marry me?”

  “I’m sorry it took getting shot for you to come to that realization, but Brady Forester, I’ve loved you since I was four years old. I guess it’s about time I told you.”

  “Ma always said things happen when they’re supposed to., and she must’ve been right.” He held her hand, ran his thumb across her knuckles, and said, “I don’t have a ring—”

  Quickly, she answered, “I love you, Brady. I would be honored to be your wife and mother to Marshall.”

  His left hand cupped her cheek as he looked into her eyes. “Molly Butters, I love you, too.”

  Chapter Eight

  Brady helped her into the wagon a while after talking more on the porch. Climbing in beside her caused a sharp pain to shoot up his back. He had been having some twinges of late, which he guessed were aggravated yesterday while branding the calves. He’d been told from the beginning that this would happen, he had hoped the pain would be later than sooner.

  “How and where were you shot?”

  He supposed she had seen him grimace, but it felt strange to have someone in tune with him. He would have to tell her at some point. Now was as good a time as any.

  “I was down in Bandera tracking a bank robber and murderer. I’d tracked him into a canyon, knew I was close, and thought I had him cornered. I never saw him backtrack to come around behind me. Big mistake.”

  “Then what happened?”

  “I managed to get back on my horse and ride to Bandera where the doc worked on me.”

  “Good. I’m glad he could fix you up.”

  “He couldn’t get the bullet out, though, it’s too close to my spine. He said to get to Dallas to a good surgeon as soon as I could.”

  “Why haven’t you done that?” She gave him a pointed look he was quickly learning was her serious, take no prisoners look. “How can you raise a child if you can’t walk? Or if you’re dead?”

  Her statement hit home. “When I finish this job for your father, I promise to take a trip to Dallas.”

  “I hope so. I don’t think I can take care of two of you.” She appeared to be thinking, and then a grin spread across her face. “I guess I can put you in the same room as Papa. That would help me a lot!”

  “Not in this lifetime!” He popped the reins to urge the horses forward. As they headed onto the road to the Butters ranch, he heard Molly giggling. He glanced her way and shook his head from side to side. She would be a handful and, he realized, he looked forward to the challenge.

  The next morning Brady woke to the smell of sausage frying in the kitchen and a pot of fresh coffee on the stove. They had been late getting home last night due his mother enjoying her visit with Butters. She had put Shorty to sleep on the bed in Butters’ quarters and they were all as cozy as could be. He didn’t know why that aggravated him so much, but it did.

  He dressed, walked through the kitchen, and hugged his mother, then kissed the top of her head. “Good morning.”

  “Morning,” she answered, while turning the sausage. “Good thing you got up, I thought I was going to drag out the drum to wake you.”

  “I forgot about that darned thing.” He laughed. “Besides, didn’t Jimmie and I tear that up?”

  “One of the good things about living in this day and age is almost any item can be replaced. I bought a new one.”

  She carried the sausage plate to the table, along with a large lidded bowl of biscuits, and sat across from him to fix her plate. “Eat up, you have a long day.”

  “You make any gravy, Ma?”

  “I left it beside the stove. Get the bowl for us, will you?”

  He did and had the most delicious breakfast meal since he left home. When he finished, he looked in on Shorty, who still slept soundly. On his way out the kitchen door, he stopped, hugged his mother again, and lifted her off the floor.

  “Put me down, you rascal.”

  He swung her around and said, “No, I will not. I’m the happiest I’ve been in quite some time and I intend to shout if necessary.”

  “Shhh,” she whispered. “You wake my grandson and I will give you something to shout about!”

  He put her down and whistled on his way to the barn to saddle Emma. It would be a good day.

  Brady found Cal out by the bunkhouse talking to Jason and Lem. “I want you two to ride that fence line to find where it’s been cut and look for Weathers on the way. When you get back, come report directly to me.”

  “Yes sir,” they answered in unison.

  “What’s up?” he asked.

  “Jake and Buster told me last night that the number of calves we branded was less than was supposed to be in that pasture.”

  “How many were missing?”

  We should have had seventy-five. Some were ours from the spring and some Mr. Butters bought. When you and I got there yesterday afternoon, the boys had been hard at it for quite a while. I didn’t count ‘em, I rely on my men to do that.

  “I sent Weathers out before sunrise to make sure the fences are secure before we move the cattle this morning. He hasn’t come back.”

  “I’ll ride out to the old pasture, while they check the new one, I’ll let you know what I find.”

  “Thanks, Forester.”

  At first glance, all looked as it had yesterday. The barbed wire fence was intact until he reached the back corner, where the wire had been cut. Question was, had Weathers been the victim of rustlers or was he part of the gang?

  Brady rode through the gap in the fence line and followed the trail left by the calves and riders on horseback. The trail led over a ridge to a cabin on the other side. He tied Emma to a tree branch and crawled up to the top of the ridge. Three men milled about a small corral holding the calves. Two he identified as Jason and Lem, the third he didn’t recognize. There was no sign of Charlie Weathers, but he could be tied up and left anywhere. If he had tried to intervene, he could be dead.

  Since it was still early in the day, he had time to keep a watch for a while before he sought assistance. He removed his hat on the oft chance he might be seen and settled in to wait. Just as he did, Charlie Weathers emerged from the cabin with a bottle of whiskey in his hand.

  ***

  Molly carried the wheeled chair down the stairs ahead of Cal and Buster, who carried her father. He woke up this morning insisting they move him to the parlor. She could only attribute that idea to Berta Mae and for that she was grateful. Once he was settled in his chair, she brought his breakfast to the dining room table, where he waited.

  “Papa, it’s so good to have you downstairs again.”

  “I decided it’s high time. I figured I could harass you easier from down here.”

  “You sure can.” She didn’t tell him, but she liked the idea for it meant she wouldn’t be running up and down the stairs all day. “Did you enjoy Berta Mae’s visit last night?”

  “I did. I had forgotten how much I appreciated a lady’s company. She said she might come this afternoon and I told her only if she brought that little boy with her.”

  “How lovely. I’ll have something ready to serve.”

  “Daughter, are you seriously considering marriage to the Ranger?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “Good,” he said. “Fine boy, that one.”

  That statement took her aback. It was a long way from what she expected him to say. What had happened and where was her father?

  He finished his breakfast, drank the last of his coffee and pushed away from the table. “I think I’ll take a look around the place.”

  “Good idea, Papa. If you like, you could sit outside on the porch later.”

  “I might just do that.” He rolled from the dining room into the office and closed the door.

  It was then, she had an idea. She carried the tray of dishes to the kitchen and went to the barn to find Cal. When she got close to the barn Cal, Buster, and Jake stood close together talking. She inched as
close as she could to hear their conversation, yet not be seen.

  “What do you mean Jason and Lem aren’t back yet?”

  “Just what we said, boss, they ain’t here.”

  “What about Forester?” Cal asked.

  “We ain’t seen him neither,” Buster answered. “What do you want us to do?”

  “Buster, ride into town and get Sheriff Kenemer. Tell him what we suspect and that he might want to bring a couple of deputies. Jake and I are going out to the farther pasture.”

  “What do I do after I tell the sheriff?”

  “Stay here and protect the house.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  She didn’t move quickly enough and when Cal turned toward the barn, he saw her.

  “Molly, what’re you doing out here?”

  “Where’s Brady?” she countered.

  “Doing his job. Now, go back to the house.”

  “I won’t until you tell me why you need Sheriff Kenemer.”

  Come with me. I have to brief your father and I don’t have time to say it twice.”

  She followed him to the front porch where her father sat.

  “Mr. Butters, I don’t have anything solid at this time, but I suspect a problem.”

  “Is it the same problem we discussed last week?”

  “Yes, sir. Charlie Weathers went missing early this morning. I sent Jason and Lem to look for him and to check the new pasture fences and they haven’t returned. Forester left to check the south pasture—”

  “Let me guess,” Lloyd said. “You don’t know where he is either.”

  “No sir, I don’t.”

  “What do you know?”

  “I’ve sent Buster for the sheriff and I’m about to go look for Forester.”

  “Good idea. He’s about to become my son-in-law and I do believe Molly will have your hide if anything happens to him. Oh, before you leave, hand me my shotgun and some shells.”

  Cal brought the gun and shells and left by the back door.

  “Daughter,” Lloyd said. “I know you’re tempted to go look for Brady, but if there’s trouble, you’ll only get in the way. I need you here with me.”

  For the first time in her life she was torn in her loyalties between her father and her future husband. She might be of more help here, but her heart was somewhere in the south forty.

  ***

  Brady peered over the ridge looking for any sign of Charlie Weathers. There was still something about the man that threw up alarms. For the life of him, though he couldn’t put his finger on what it could be. He needed to look beyond the longer hair and beard to find any similarity from a person in his past. There had been nothing in the files Cal had given him on the drifter, no references of ranches he had worked on before, nothing.

  It had been an hour since the four men had disappeared into the cabin. From beneath him at the bottom of the ridge, a voice called out low, “Hey Forester!”

  He looked down and saw Jake from the ranch. He motioned for the man to join him. When he scrabbled up the rocky hillside, landing next to Brady’s shoulder, he said, “Cal expected you back before now. What’re you doing up here?”

  “I followed the trail and found the calves.”

  “Yeah? Let’s go get ‘em!”

  Brady stopped him from going over the ridge with a firm hand on his shoulder. “Slow down. There are four men down there in the cabin. You go off half cocked you’re going to get yourself killed.”

  “Do you know who they are?”

  “Yes, I do, unfortunately,” Brady whispered. “You’re not going to like it.”

  “Are Lem and Jason in there?”

  “They are.” Brady glanced his way, then faced the cabin again. “How did you know?”

  “Confirmation of a few suspicions.” He crept further up, landing closer to Brady.

  Brady noticed he had followed suit, removed his hat and hung it on a scrub bush. Even in summer, it made no sense to give anyone an invitation to ventilate your hat with a bullet. He crawled a little higher to get a better look.

  “Forester, did you know this place was here?”

  “I’ve been on the trail of an outlaw named Ed Terrence for a while now,” Brady explained. “We’d been told there was a small ranch house tucked into the valley somewhere in these parts. Word was it belonged to Terrence’s family.”

  “Is the outlaw in there?”

  “I haven’t seen him yet.” He pulled the worn wanted poster from his rear pants pocket and handed it to Jake. “This is what he looked like two years ago.”

  Jake looked over at him. “You’re the law, ain’t you?”

  “I’m a Ranger. Mr. Butters knew he had a problem on the ranch and asked that y’all not be told while I investigated.” Movement below drew his attention. The men had come out of the cabin.

  Charlie Weathers spoke, “Patience, Lem, patience.”

  “Don’t preach patience to me,” Lem shouted. “We can’t hold the calves here too long. They need water and feed. You ain’t going to make money on dead cattle.”

  “You don’t like the way I run things, you can leave.”

  “Now, I didn’t say—”

  “Or I can help you leave.” Charlie pulled out his pistol and shot him.

  In seconds, Jake started over the ridge. “Lem, no!”

  Just as Brady reached for the man’s arm, a crippling spasm hit his back, leaving him unable to move. He heard Jake fire twice, a third shot sounded from a different direction, then silence. He tried to reach his gun just beyond his fingertips.

  “So,” a man’s voice said from behind him. “The Ranger always gets his man.”

  Instantly, Brady recognized the voice as that of Ed Terrence. He hadn’t recognized the face but the voice he would never forget. He willed his body to obey but it refused. He was stuck.”

  Terrence continued, his tone taunting, “Sure doesn’t seem so, now, does it?” He laughed, cocked his pistol, and shot over Brady’s head. He pulled the hammer back again, ready to fire.

  Brady tucked his head as much as he could and steeled himself for the bullet to rip into his body. Suddenly, a shotgun blast went off and Terrence dropped to the ground holding his side. Had Yancey or Cal shown up? Who had saved him? He didn’t have to wonder for long, for in seconds he was surrounded by petticoats and roses.

  “Molly?”

  “Yes, Brady, are you all right?” Her hands roamed over him making sure he hadn’t been shot. “What happened?”

  “My back seized, and I couldn’t move. I’m better now.”

  From the other side of the ridge, Yancey ordered the remaining two rustlers out of the cabin.

  “Yancey!” Brady called out. “Terrence is up here waiting to be cuffed.”

  “Can you stand yet?”

  “Yeah, I think so.” He leaned on her, so proud of how she reacted today. “How’s Jake? Is he all right?”

  “Looks like he was shot in the shoulder, but he’s helping Yancey and the others.” They started down the ridge and she said, “Come on, let’s go home.”

  Chapter Nine

  Two weeks later, Molly brought the sheets, pillows, and quilt downstairs for her father’s bed. Whatever Berta Mae had said to him that night at supper had gotten him motivated to become a part of the family again. He was even going outside to the barn to see his horses. She would be eternally grateful.

  She set the bed linens on the dresser in the new bedroom downstairs, then went into the kitchen to make sure all was ready for lunch. She was expecting several people today to help her finalize the first floor for her father’s living quarters. Cal and Buster would do the heavy lifting, Berta Mae and Muriel would coordinate moving lamps, drapes, and a few rugs. She would pick up the slack. She had no doubts the two women could get everything done, for together they were a force of nature.

  She came into the front of the house as the door opened.

  “We’re here and ready to work!” Berta Mae was the first to come in, with Brady and Ma
rshall bringing up the rear. “Where’s Lloyd?”

  “He’s arranging the office to suit him,” Molly said. “Go on in, I’m sure he’ll appreciate the help.” It felt really good to be able to say that after nearly a year of him being a shut in.

  She hurried over to grab the bag Brady carried and the blanket. As soon as she touched the blanket, Marshall squealed. She looked at Brady, baffled.

  “Sorry, he’s gotten attached. Ma thinks he’s cutting the two bottom front teeth.”

  “So is Sally’s Davey. Marshall will probably be cranky until they come in.” She rubbed the baby’s arm in commiseration. Taking him from Brady, she said, “Come with Molly and I’ll fix you a pallet in Grandpa’s new room.”

  Brady grinned. “Me, too?”

  “Sorry, no. You have to be an adult today.” She stopped at the entrance to the new bedroom and fluttered her eyelids. “Being an adult has its perks, too, you know. Come find me later.”

  She fashioned the quilt int a pallet on the floor and laid the baby down. Right away he began to fuss, so she laid beside him, pulling him close with her draped over him. As soon as he dropped off to sleep, she promised herself she would get up and get to work.

  ***

  Brady and Cal carried Lloyd’s desk down the stairs and then, the one it was replacing to the room upstairs. The one they carried up the stairs was smaller and more feminine, and though lighter it was still a lot of weight. He thought he’d given his back enough time to heal, but maybe not, for it was talking to him, loudly. He didn’t like what it was saying either.

  He went on the search for Molly, while Cal headed to the barn. He found Shorty wide awake and Molly sound asleep on the pallet. Feeling pesky, he laid beside her using Shorty as a buffer. He took a long tendril of hair that had escaped its pins and proceeded to tickle the tip of her nose. Twice she wiggled her nose to shew away the offender. The third time she hauled off and swatted connecting with his arm.

  Her eyes popped open but not focusing yet. When they did, she sat up. “Oh, for goodness sake. I didn’t hit Marshall, did I?”