by Rita Hestand
Everyone crowded around Cora now, wanting to know what happened. Cora told them as much as she could. Everyone stared at the doc's office.
Charlie came out, a weary look on his face.
"How—is she?"
"If the doc can get it out, she'll mend, if he can't…." his voice drifted off.
Cora's face went white.
Others crowded around them now.
"And the baby?" Cora asked.
"It's too early, if she don't make it, the baby won't either."
Cora gave Elan to Charlie and grabbed her mouth. Tears rolled down her cheek.
One woman came up to her, "You mean that poor little thing was pregnant?"
"Yes, only three months, but yes." Charlie answered.
"My God!"
The Sheriff came up to Charlie and stared for a long moment. "Haywood just killed Laura."
Charlie lifted his gaze to the man. "If he hadn't me or Clay would have."
"How's Clay's wife?" The Sheriff asked.
"Don't know yet, docs operating on her."
"I'm sorry Charlie."
Charlie nodded.
Most everyone crowded around to hear how Willa was. Charlie and Cora were a bit surprised by their concern.
"Don't hold with no killin' a woman." The Sheriff told Charlie.
"She's pregnant!" Charlie stated solemnly.
"Clay's wife is pregnant?"
"Yes, only three months along."
"Then this could be a double murder." The Sheriff announced.
"Well let's hope it ain't a murder at all!" Charlie barked.
"What are you gonna do with Haywood?"
"Hold him over for trial, Got to."
"Let us know when, we'll speak up for him at the trial." Charlie told him.
"Will do."
Two hours later, the crowd had built up outside when Clay came out.
He stretched and then looked at Charlie and Cora, "She's gonna be alright."
"And the baby?" Cora asked.
"Is fine."
Everyone in the street seemed to sigh. Clay looked around and realized all these people were concerned for his wife and it suddenly warmed his heart.
Many told him they were pulling for her.
Then as they began to walk off, Charlie told him about Haywood.
"He killed her?" Clay looked troubled and surprised.
"Yeah, he did. I told the Sheriff we'd testify at his trial."
"Good. I'm sorry for Haywood, but I'd have done it if he hadn't. I guess I need to thank him for that."
"We both need to."
Clay took Elan into his arms and kissed his cheek, "Your mother was a brave woman and someday I'm going to tell you all about it. Because she's too modest to tell you what she did."
"Can I go in and see her?" Cora asked.
"I think it would be alright." Clay told her.
Willa had to stay at the docs for a while and Clay was there nearly every day. When they took her home, she smiled. "It's good to be home." She told them.
Two weeks later the trial was set for Haywood. Everyone in town was there for it. And no one said one bad word about what Haywood did. Charlie and Clay spoke up for him and the judge went easy on his sentence giving him ten years.
After the trial Charlie and Clay talked to Haywood.
"I want you to know that what you did, well, we'd have done the same."
Haywood nodded. "I finally realized when she would stoop to kill a baby that it was too much. She was sick. I figured I owed Clay something, so I took it upon myself to face her. She didn't try to lie about it. She said she hated Indians and she was going to destroy something she knew your wife loved, Elan, your baby. When I realized it was the baby she was after, it made me even madder to think she could hate that much. That anyone could. But before she died, she told me, she's the one that had your house burned down. She thought Willa and the baby might be in there. She was a sick woman. I'm glad I realize that."
"Well Haywood, I feel bad that you have to pay for this." Clay told him.
"Judge said with good behavior I could get out in five. So that ain't so bad. Maybe I won't be drinking any more either."
"Well, tell you what, you be good and get out early and you can come to work with us on the place."
"You mean it?"
"I do." Charlie told him.
"Thanks, I will be good, extra good."
Clay and Charlie shook hands with him and left the jail.
A month later Charlie and Clay had just finished painting the house and came in when Cora announced. "We got a surprise for you."
Suddenly, Willa who had been healing well, got up from the wheelchair the doc had loaned her and walked into her husband's arms.
He picked her up, whirled her around and kissed her tenderly on the lips.
"You're going to be alright now?"
"Yes, my darling, I'm going to be just fine."
Elan giggled and reached for his mother.
"Well, I think this calls for a real celebration. I think we should invite the town out here to celebrate with us. We've had so many bring food and offer to help out. What do you think?"
Willa looked round the room and couldn't help but beam them a smile, "I think it would be wonderful."
"Are you up to this?" Clay asked with concern.
"I am! Besides, everyone has been so kind, I want to celebrate with the whole town." Willa said. "To think it only took a bullet for them to like me."
"I think, and this might sound callus, but not having Laura's mouth around, they might have liked you from the beginning." Clay told her and kissed her again.
"I only wish I could have made her understand." Willa cried.
"Nobody makes a jealous woman understand." Cora told her.
Cora went to bring something to Clay.
"I got a letter from Haywood; he says he's learning to read and write and how do we like his letter." Clay chuckled.
Charlie grabbed the letter. "Well I'll be."
That night as they went to bed, Willa took Clay's hand and put it on her belly, "He hears your voice and he kicks like thunder." Willa chuckled.
Clay rubbed her tummy, "I'm so happy."
"Me too!"
"What should we name him?"
"Well we don't know if it's a he or a she. But I have a name picked out already.
"Oh yeah, what?" Clay asked folding her into his arms.
"If it's a boy, Charlie Haywood Thunder Nelson." She told him.
"That's a mouthful, but Thunder?"
"Well, I have to remind him he's part Indian somehow, don't I?" She chuckled.
Clay looked at her and laughed, "Well alright then, Charlie Haywood Thunder Nelson. I can live with that."
Elan heard them and clapped his hands.
Clay laughed, "I think he approves."
Clay picked Elan up in his arms and looked at him seriously, "So are you ready for a baby brother or sister?"
"Dada!" Elan cried
Elan clapped again and Clay and Willa laughed with him.
The End
About the Author
I’m a professional writer of romance and children’s books. I’m also a poet and short story writer. I’m working on another historical western right now, one mid-grade book and just finished two historical westerns. You’ll find a lot of facts in my historical western romances not the run of the mill romances. Check them out.
I’m also a grandmother and great-grandmother who enjoys spending time with her family.
I hope you enjoy my books. Thank You and God Bless
Rita Hestand
Rita's Other Books
Beyond the Dream Catcher
Just One Kiss
Ask No Tomorrows
A Promised Heart
Be Free My Heart
Teach Me Your Love
My Captured Heart
Finding Her
Guilty as Sin
Western Serial Killer Series
Better
Off Without Her
Good Day for a Hanging
Bad Day for a Killing
The Ghost of Victor Frank
The Travers Brothers Series
Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Courting Abby
Hannah's Man
Along Came Love
Avalanche of the Heart
The McKay's
Raining in My Heart
Ring of Fire
Twelfth of Never
Stand by Me
The Amory's
Heart of the Wild
Sweeter Than Wine
Mail Order Nanny
Singles
Always Remember
Love Rules
Jodi's Journey
Nick's Baby
Pretend Mom
Runaway Bride
Suspicions of the Heart
Wandering Heart
Brides of the West
Heart of a Family
Delivering the Bride
Heart of a Woman
Wanted Bride
This Side of Forever
Shotgun Bride
A Love as Big as Texas
Heart of a Captive
Wherever My Heart Roams
In the Arms of an Angel
Bride from Shenandoah
Falling for the Bride
An Unexpected Welcome
A Desperado's Bride
The Filly & the Gambler
The Lady Train
Comes a Hero
An Unescorted Lady
And Here I'll Stay
Red River Valley Brides
Heart of a Lady
Dancing with the Preacher Man
Last Bride, Last Man
Winning the Lady
Maggie's Dreams
The Connor's
Cinderella Nanny
Guarding Red Riding Hood
Finding the Fairytale
Saving Sleeping Beauty
Beauty's Beast
Cowboy Lovin' Series
Broken Hearted
His to Hold
All my Yesterday's
