by Linda Broday
In the midst of all this, an older man wearing round spectacles and a frock coat like Ridge’s pushed through the boisterous crowd to Tally. “Mrs. Colby? Phineas Hargrove, attorney-at-law. I have an urgent matter to discuss when you have the time.”
Thirty-five
Clay stood gazing at the new arrivals and his throat closed up. He blinked to clear his vision. He’d done it. He hadn’t failed this time. The women of Creedmore were safe. Maybe he could lay the demons that had haunted him for such a long time to rest.
Vicksburg, the war, and later, the men who’d tried to keep him from making a decent life were vanquished.
Tally strolled into his line of sight, her arm around Rebel. The sound of their laughter was a balm to his soul. Tally filled his heart with so much happiness. She was the only woman for him. He owed Rebel, though, for saving his life and not letting him give up.
A smile formed. He was glad the two were now friends. It made for a happier town.
That night, following a welcome-home supper, Clay sat with his baby girl. They hadn’t had hardly a moment to themselves, what with finding the ladies a place to bed down, and Tally was still trying to get them all situated. She hadn’t yet found time to talk with the attorney, who had been patiently waiting for their return. Houston Legend had sent him, and Clay was chomping at the bit to take Lucinda Shannon to court and let all the evidence come out. Bullet licked Clay’s hand, chuffed, and dropped at his feet.
Violet moved closer and laid a hand on his arm as though to assure herself that he hadn’t disappeared. “Daddy, I missed you real bad. I had scary dreams that you and Mama were dead.”
Clay set down his plate of food and pulled her into his lap. “I thought of you every second. I’m sorry you didn’t sleep well.”
“Did that mean ol’ Tarver turn to a black stone?”
“Yep.” The image of Slade Tarver in that window with flames licking around him crossed his mind. Clay let the fragrance of the night surround him, glad that Violet had been spared the scene. “Yep, he turned into a very hard black stone, just like the man in the story. He won’t bother us ever again.”
“Good. He shoulda been nice.” Violet’s voice dropped low. “Daddy, Mr. Montana ain’t gonna come back, is he?”
The child was too smart by half. He and Tally were supposed to be doing this together, but it couldn’t wait any longer.
“No, baby girl, he won’t come back.” Clay took a deep breath. “He got killed.”
Violet gave a little cry and buried her face against him. He rubbed her small back. If only he could spare her every grief and sorrow, but that wasn’t possible. Life held no promises and you had to accept the bad with the good.
Tears trembled on Violet’s long lashes when she lifted her head. “I loved him, you know. Mr. Montana said I was the daughter he never had. And now he’s in heaven. I miss him real bad.”
In heaven? Clay silenced the snort. But who was to say? Montana Black had given his life for him and for Violet. He wiped her eyes, then kissed her cheek.
“I miss him too, sweetheart. Did you know his last words were about you? That’s right. Montana worried that you needed us.” Clay’s gaze swept to Tally as she moved toward the campfire. God, that woman could open a heart he thought long dead! “Do you feel like dancing, baby girl?”
“I don’t hear any music.” Violet tilted her head, listening.
Clay signaled to Dallas Hawk to lift the fiddle, and the first strains of a waltz filled the air. “How about now?”
A huge smile covered Violet’s face as Clay stood and set her on his boots. He moved across the ground, holding her tight, then closed his eyes and let the music soothe his ragged soul. Other couples joined them and soon the area was alive with moving bodies and laughter. Tally stood with an arm around the two children they’d rescued from Creedmore’s basement. She’d bathed them and put them in clean clothes. Tally’s eyes met Clay’s, and he couldn’t wait to get her next to him, but when the music ended, she brought the girl over. “Jenny wants to dance with you.”
“Sounds good to me.” Clay put his arms around Jenny Carver and anchored her on his boots. The child’s eyes glowed with excitement. Judging by the rapture on her face, she’d never heard any musical instrument. “Do you like music, Jenny?”
“Yes.”
“Does it make you happy?”
“Yes.”
“That’s good. Everyone should be happy tonight, don’t you think?”
“Yes.”
Boy, she was sure a talker. He grinned and told her all about Devil’s Crossing, the goats, and Bullet, and that he was very happy she and her brother, Ely, had come to live with them. When he finished the dance, he took her back to Tally.
Violet took Jenny’s hand. “You and me are gonna go exploring tomorrow. But you have to watch for snakes ’cause my friend ain’t here anymore to save us. You’d have liked Mr. Montana.”
Ely loosened his grip on Tally’s dress. “I’m good at watching for snakes. Can I come?”
“Okay. We’ll all explore together.”
Tally chucked as the three moved toward a bench. “Those kids are going to be all right.”
“Yep, they are.” Clay offered his hand. “Care to dance, Mrs. Colby?”
“Always, my handsome cowboy.”
She floated into the welcoming circle and slid an arm around his neck. Clay glided her around in wide, sweeping angles, avoiding the other waltzing couples. She moved against him, her soft curves brushing each line of his body. He groaned.
If she had been a match, the friction would have had them going up in flames.
“Man, I’m glad to be back home.” He glanced up at the moon. “We have much to celebrate.” He held her hand against his chest. “Never again will I take anything for granted.”
“I’m all for counting blessings.” Her gaze wandered to some of the women of Creedmore and Deliverance Canyon who were waltzing with the lonely men. Her chin quivered and she bit her lip. “I never thought I’d live to see this moment.”
“It just goes to show that life is full of surprises.” He twirled her under his arm and lowered her in a dip before raising her up. “Darlin’, what do you think about dropping the guard on the town? Tarver and his bunch are all dead. You really don’t have anything to fear.”
“You do, though. What about lawmen showing up, looking for you and the others?”
Clay sighed. “That’s a risk we’re all willing to take. But hiding in plain sight makes us awfully hard to find. We can’t shut out the world and expect to thrive.”
“I’m fine with dropping the guard for my sake. I just worry about you and the men. A posse could swoop in and get you.”
“We’ve lived with this most of our lives. This is nothing new.” He rested his mouth against her temple, breathing in the fragrance that was Tally Shannon Colby. “We should meet with that attorney fellow right after breakfast. And once you share everything you know about Lucinda with him, I want to see if he’ll handle the matter of amnesty, at least for me and Jack.”
“That’s a wonderful idea, Clay. I pray he will. Every man longs to be free.”
“I want to wipe the slate clean. I’m tired of looking over my shoulder and I know Jack is too. It’s no way to live and you deserve better.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “I am a lucky, lucky man. There’s no doubt about it.”
“And I’m the luckiest woman alive bar none.” Tally looked over his shoulder and gave a soft cry.
“What is it?”
“Look over at the edge of the dancers.”
Clay followed her glance to Rebel. The woman had the children in a circle, holding their hands, dancing and laughing. “Well, I’ll be.”
“I’m so glad she’s at peace. Everyone deserves a second chance.”
He chuckled. “Three or four in t
his case, but who’s counting?”
“Did I mention how handsome you look tonight?” Tally’s eyes shimmered in the moonlight as she toyed with the hair at the back of his neck. “I can’t wait to get you alone in our new house. You’ll plead for mercy. That’s all I’m saying, cowboy.”
“Do tell.” He brought them to a stop and lowered his mouth to hers. He nibbled his way across the seam of her mouth before finding he had no patience for teasing.
A familiar heat pooled inside Clay and swept the length of his body. Her nipples had hardened, and he could feel them through her bodice, pressing to his chest. She was his beginning…and end. His warrior angel. And he desired her more than anything he’d ever known.
His fingertips slid down the long column of her throat to the pulsing hollow where her heart beat wildly. A moan slipped from her mouth as her arms went around him and she melted into his arms.
If he lived to be a hundred, he’d never tire of holding, kissing, making love to her.
It took a moment for his addled brain to become aware that the music had stopped. He ended the kiss and glanced up. Everyone began clapping, hollering, and chanting his and Tally’s name.
He took her hand and walked back to the fire, giving the audience a frown. “What was that for?”
Jack Bowdre stepped forward, hat in hand. “Surviving. We like seeing you two together. And we sort of like you around. Sometimes. Well, most times.”
Clay gave a snort. “You love Tally, you mean. Me, you just tolerate.”
Jack chuckled. “Yep. I reckon that’s about the whole sum of it.”
Someone gave a shrill whistle and the crowd parted. Ridge Steele, his gun hanging from his hip, his black boots coming to his knees, walked carefully toward them, balancing a tall cake.
When the ex-preacher reached Clay, he set the confection on a table. “For you and Miss Tally. A celebration for returning with all these beautiful ladies. Our town grew by leaps and bounds in a matter of minutes.” Ridge paused. “And ’specially to celebrate you two making it back in one piece.”
In the quiet that followed, a voice rose. “Give us a speech, Clay.”
Clay raised his hand. “Now, you all know I’m not big on talking, but I want to say how proud I am of each of you. You put your shoulders to the grindstone to build this place, and never once let up.”
He glanced at Tally. “My wife pointed out that we need a more suitable name—seems folks won’t be very quick to bring their businesses to a place called Devil’s Crossing. So be thinking. I’ll set out a basket that you can drop the suggestions into. This is your town. What do you want it called? Also, we don’t need to guard any longer. Unless I’m wrong, the men from Creedmore are all dead. We’ll open up to settlers.”
The crowd nodded, clapping and whistling.
“Now, let’s get back to dancing. And I need some cake.”
Tally slid her hand around his elbow. “Did anyone ever mention that you make a good politician?”
“Nope. Get that notion out of your head right now.” He planted a kiss behind her ear. “Politicians talk more and say less than any people I know. Want some cake?”
“Absolutely. It looks good. I think it’s fresh apple.”
“Yum, my favorite.” He spoke to several of the new women as they made their way to the dessert table, then turned to Tally. “The difference in these women after just one day is amazing. I saw Dr. Mary treating those who needed it. Did she look at your shrapnel wounds?”
“First thing. I’m all fixed up.” Tally pressed closer, her auburn hair brushing his cheek, the warmth of her body teasing him. “You worry too much about me, Clay.”
“Who will if I don’t? Violet?” He grinned to hide the concern that his wife still suffered lingering effects of the explosion as well as the vile tea Tarver had made her drink and her anxiety attacks. “How are your chest pains? I’m sure getting the life choked out of you and then the explosion didn’t help.”
She played with the ends of his hair. “Stop it. I’m fine. Better than I’ve been in a long time. For your information, I haven’t had any chest pains in a while.”
“Good. You’re all I’ve got and I’m just trying to make sure nothing happens to you.”
“Pardon me, Mr. Colby.” Susan Worth interrupted their conversation, patting her dark hair where a few strands of gray glinted. “I haven’t thanked you yet for what you did in ridding us of Tarver and his bunch.”
“Your smile is thanks enough, Mrs. Worth. What I did needed doing for a lot of people. And Tally deserves just as much credit—or more.” He glanced down and got lost in Tally’s winter blues. Shaking himself, he turned back to Susan. “What are your plans now?”
The firelight revealed the sparkle of tears in her eyes. “I have nothing left to go home to. If you’ll have me, I plan to stay. This seems like an excellent place to start over. I’m a pretty fair baker. I’ll open a small shop and provide pastries and breads.”
“Susan, that’s wonderful!” Tally gave her a hug. “I’ll be a regular customer. Did you make this cake, by chance?” Tally cut a piece and handed it to Clay.
“Yes, apple cake was my husband’s favorite.” Susan glanced at the crowd and the Creedmore women.
The sorrow in Susan’s face touched Clay. She was adrift without an anchor. Maybe they could provide that in time. “I’m glad you’re staying, Mrs. Worth. We can use you.”
Susan cut a large piece of cake and took it to one of the arrivals who sat alone, looking lost. Susan dropped down next to her and, in no time, had the woman smiling.
Clay warmed at Susan Worth’s kind heart. The widow would fit right in and prove an asset, as would the others, and maybe, in time, she could find peace. His gaze swept the large gathering. Their new town was full of people who didn’t fit anywhere else.
Maybe that’s why he’d wanted to put a town here. All of them were misfits, but their common bond provided a place with opportunity to start over.
Sometimes when events shook a person’s foundation, life stopped for a while, then started again, moving a body in a new, totally different direction.
His attention caught on Rebel in a plain cotton dress, sitting with both little Jenny and Ely on her lap. He couldn’t stop the smile. This proved anything was possible.
Tally reached for his hand and threaded her fingers through his. “I still can’t believe we made it, Clay. I keep thinking this is a dream. I want to cry because I’m so happy.”
“Hey, I don’t want my girl all weepy tonight. I have plans.” He tilted her chin and gave her a tender kiss.
When the kiss ended, he noticed Jack standing apart, staring out into the black night, his shoulders slumped. A bottle of whiskey dangled at his side.
“Excuse me for a minute, Tally. I need to speak to Jack.”
“I need to find Violet anyway.”
Clay strode to his old friend. “There’s nothing out there but a whole lot of darkness, Jack.”
“Tell me about it. You should go back to Tally.”
“Not until I find out what’s wrong. I saw you speaking to pretty Darcy Howard. Did you two have words?”
“We’re fine, and I want to marry her.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“Darcy’s changed her mind. She’s decided to enter a convent.” Jack swung to him. The lines etched in the ex-lawman’s face made him appear much older than his thirty-one years. “A convent.” Jack barked a laugh. “She’d rather be a nun than marry me. A nun.”
From Jack’s position, it probably did seem laughable, but then, he hadn’t seen Creedmore.
“Don’t take this personal.”
“How the hell am I supposed to take it, Clay? Huh?”
“You can’t imagine what she’s been through—what they’ve all endured.” Bullet wandered up and Clay patted the faithful pooch�
�s head. “Jack, you couldn’t imagine that place. I’ve seen animals kept in better conditions, and I’ll have nightmares for a long while. I imagine Darcy needs to find some inner peace and a way to forget.”
“I reckon. I don’t begrudge her that. Just disappointed is all. I’d counted the days until we could be married. We’d talked about tying the knot next month.”
“There are other women. You’ll find one. You just have to be patient.”
“You don’t think I have been?” Anger and hurt blazed in Jack’s eyes. “I’m tired, Clay, and I’m not getting any younger. I want a family before I die. You know?”
“You can’t give up.” Clay laid a hand on his back. “No matter what, you have to keep reaching for what you want.”
“Those are easy words for someone with a wife like Tally. You have your dream—a town, a wife, a daughter. You just about have everything you ever wanted.”
“Except for amnesty. You’re right. I have more than I ever thought I would.”
“Yeah, well, don’t preach to me.” Jack pushed at him. “Go back to the party. I’ll be all right tomorrow. But tonight, I’m going to get drunk.”
Clay removed his hand. “Fine. But after breakfast, you’d best be here to talk to Phineas Hargrove. This lawyer is the best chance we’ve got to clear our names.”
When Jack didn’t answer, Clay turned away and went back to Tally. She’d found Violet, and his heart swelled to see the child holding hands with Jenny and Ely. The two Carver kids had climbed from Rebel’s lap but stayed by her knee. The three children appeared to be fast friends.
“Care to waltz again?” He held out his palm to Tally.
“Yes, indeed, Mr. Colby. I saved this dance especially for you.” Her voice held a breathless quality that whispered over his skin, arousing him.
He placed a hand on her waist and pulled her flush against him. “I could hold you like this all night. When you leave my arms, I feel so empty and cold. I’m never going to let you go.”
