Cole's Redemption (Love Amongst the Pines) (24 page)

             
"Miriam. You don't ever have to be afraid as long as I'm here," he whispered.

             
In the next instant, he pulled away, giving her a gentle smile as he turned. She couldn't help it as a shiver passed over her. Something deep inside of Miriam awoke in that moment, and it was all she could do to not to run after him.

             
"Come on, Dermott, you old fart," he called to his friend who stood holding hands with
Melly
. "Kiss her and get it over with. We've got work to do tomorrow."

             
Before Miriam could blink, she watched as her stiff laced, British maid gingerly jumped forward and planted a kiss on Dermott's surprised face.

             
"Hot damn and pass the potatoes!" Dermott yelled as he jumped sideways and ran to the wagon. After climbing aboard, the two men waved good-bye and set off into the night. Miriam stood transfixed watching the pair leave, a warm feeling growing inside of her at the thought of this odd man who sat stoically beside Dermott.
A few seconds
later, the sound of harmonica music filled the evening with a joyful tune. She stood transfixed as the wagon pulled away and didn't move until they'd faded from sight and the musi
c disappeared into the distance

             
When morning came, Cole and Natty ate a sparse breakfast, and then gathering together their plans and tools, headed out to the shaft. Cole started at the very opening, carefully holding the boards in place while Natty happily hit away at the ten-penny nails.

             
"Careful, Natty. I don't want my fingers broken again!" He laughed when her hammer went sideways against the wood.

             
"Oh, I never hit anything I
ain't
aimin
' for!"

             
"That's what I'm afraid of." He chuckled as she hoisted the big hammer up over her shoulder. What a sight she was, all dressed in her ragged shirt and boys pants.

             
"You know, I don't know why we're doing all this.
If we're just careful, and put up supports where it's the most dangerous, that should be good enough.
We need to start digging again. The sooner we get the dirt out, the sooner we get to the silver."

             
Cole looked at her. "Natty, anything worth doing, is worth doing right. That metal, if it's there at all, it has been there since time began. It'll be there a little longer. We have plenty of time to get it out."

             
She smiled. "I guess you're right. But, it's a big job, and I'm worried about making it through another winter. I don't want for us to do all this work just to starve to death before spring."

             
Cole stopped. "Natty, there are some things I haven't told you."

             
She looked at him, curious. "Like what?" "Like, my family is wealthy, for one." She looked him, her expression unbelieving. "Oh, you're just jesting me!" "No, I'm not. My parents both were quite well off. They came from considerable families. I studied abroad, in England, with some relatives of my father's. I earned a law degree there. When I came home, I was going to work in my father's law firm. It was all settled."

             
"What does that have to do with us now? You can't get any of that money, can you?"

             
He shook his head. "No. Or, at least I couldn't reach any of my funds right away. First, there's my leaving the county. Second, my mother has control of all my assets for the moment."

             
"Why don't you just ask her for it?"

             
"I would, but I said some pretty awful things before I left Boston. I told her yesterday that we didn't need her help. I don't think we do, Natty, but I won't let you starve, either. If it comes to that, I'll ask her for the money. Also, if anything happens to me, she'll take care of you. I promise."

             
Natty threw down the hammer and faced him, hands on her hips and feet apart like she was ready for a fight. "Don't talk like that! Nothing is
gonna
happen to you!"

             
Cole stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly. "Natty, you're shaking! I didn't mean to scare you, honey. It's all right."

             
She calmed a moment, and then stepped back from him. "I know it is, Cole. I just don't want you thinking that way, ever again. We're a team, you and me. We'll protect each other."

             
Cole stared at his wife with amazement, realizing that, at that moment, that he would do anything for her.
Even if it meant staying alive.

             
Sully's saloon had more customers that night than in the entire previous month. Someone had rumored a gold strike about ten miles from Whispering Pines, and the small community was full to overflowing with customers. People came to buy equipment, stock up on foodstuffs, or have one last meal and whisky before heading out into the hills.

             
Greene, being a lawman by nature, studied the crowd. He knew well there were lots of people who wasted their lives on foolish notions. At the far end of the room, he watched the town sheriff share a drink with Sully, the owner and bartender. He saw the latter point a finger at Greene, and the other man tipped his hat. Greene smiled congenially. It was always good to have the local law enforcement on one's side.

             
As the piano music clanked away in the corner, Greene saw three men enter. It was the Calvin boys.

             
"Can you share a table, Mister?" Marty asked.

             
"Sure, partner, have a seat." He waved to the bartender. "How about bringing a round for these boys. Beer, gentlemen?" All three nodded. When Sully arrived with a full tray, he sat the drinks down quickly. Behind him, the Sheriff lingered.

             
"What you boys in town for?" He asked with a quiet tone. Marty cleared his throat. "We're here to find out about the

strike
."

             
"Yeah," Jonas answered. "We think we might do some digging."

             
The sheriff watched them for a moment. "I don't want no trouble tonight. Drink up and get out of town. That way nobody will get hurt."

             
"We're just
visitin
' sheriff,
bein
' good neighbors and all."

             
The lawman narrowed his expression. "Sir, if you don't know it, these men are as cantankerous as a goat with a belly full of
sawgrass
. I'd be careful of them if I were you."

             
"Thank you, Sheriff... what was your name again?" "Watkins, Bill Watkins." "The name's Wes Greene.
My heartfelt thanks, sir.
I mean to have a drink and enjoy some company before turning in for the night. I'll only stay until we finish the beer. I've got to get an early start. I'm heading out to look at some property in the morning."

             
"Are you thinking of staying in these parts?"

             
Greene shrugged. "Depends on the property. I've been traveling for weeks, and I've not yet found what I'm looking for."

             
"And just what are you seeking?" Watkins asked. "I'll know when I find it." Greene watched as the other man tipped his hat.
             
"Boys," he nodded. "Remember what I said, and there'll be no problems."

             
Greene watched the Calvin boys as the lawman wandered back towards the bar. "You fellas aren't in any trouble are

you
?"

             
"
Naw
," Jonas, clearly the youngest of the three snorted.

             
"We was just suspected, but never caught." Marty reached across the table and swatted his brother.

             
"Shut the hell up, boy. I do all the talking, remember." The other man shrugged. "Okay, Marty. Don't get all het up
about it."

             
Greene settled back in his chair. "Let's get on with business," he said smiling, though his tone was as hard as steel. "What did you find out?"

             
"We were asking around like you said. This man you're
lookin
' for is pretty popular around here. He was all set for a hanging, a convicted murderer it turns out, when this young girl rides into town and buys his sentence. Marries him that night. Only the conditions of the marriage are a bit sketchy. One fella said that the Judge and our friend, Sheriff Watkins, had his hands smashed with a hammer so he couldn't ever use a gun."

             
"So, now he's crippled." "I guess he'd have to be. You don't mind, do you?" "No. He'll hang no matter what." All three of the Calvin boys made a pained face. "It's the

same
, I guess," Marty said as he tipped back the last of his beer. "Now, tell me about this mine. You know how to get to it?" "Yeah, it's about five miles west of here. I went and staked
it out after I got your telegram three weeks ago. I
even seen
this fella. Him and some old geezer were there. I just watched like you said."

             
"No one saw you?"

             
"
Naw
, sir, I was real careful."

             
"Good. Here's the plan. We ride out at first light. I want to take him quickly, and I want to take him alive. I don't want so much as a scratch on his ass. You understand me?"

             
"
Yessir
. What about the old man and the girl?"

             
"I don't care what happens to them. They're not my problem. I don't want them hurt on purpose, but if they get in the way of my capturing this murderer and they get shot, there's nothing to be done about it."

             
The men nodded in agreement. "We'll camp outside of town," Marty told him. "You meet us out by Creek's crossing. Just go due west."

             
Greene nodded. "Thank you gentlemen for your company."

             
With that, Greene tossed a silver dollar on the table. Picking up his hat, he retreated to the back room.

             
In his twenty-five years, Marty Calvin had never thought himself a fool. Today was no different. "Come on, boys. Let's get us a bottle of that fine blackstrap whisky to keep us warm tonight."

             
"You really think that man's going to pay us?" Jonas asked, as he watched the door at the far end of the saloon close.

             
"He's a lawman," the third brother stated.

             
"He's a rich lawman, Deacon," Marty corrected. "I got a feeling he's carrying more money on him than a bank."

             
"How we
gonna
find out? If he don't pay us, are we
gonna
just up and shoot him?" Jonas asked.

             
Marty smiled, picking up the money on the table. "Whether he pays us or not, we're
gonna
shoot him, boys. When they find him and the convict dead, they'll think it was a fair fight. We might even have us some fun with the old man and the girl before it's over. I saw her, she's a bit puny, but she
ain't
ugly. The way I see it, we've drawn us a winning hand."

             
After midnight, Dermott woke from a sound sleep. He was laying on what would be
Natty's
kitchen floor when they finished the place. A few coats of paint, some doors put up, and the place would be right livable, he thought. Squinting against the surrounding darkness, he saw the judge lying on his left side, facing the wall. He smiled as he remembered the day they'd spent wooing the ladies, especially Miss
Melly
. What a delight she was. Full figured and sweet as a butterfly. The thought of getting to know her better elicited a boyish chuckle out of him.

             
Judge turned over. "Are you still up, Dermott?"

             
"I just woke up, honest Judge. I'm sorry if I bothered you."

             
"It's okay. Just try and get some sleep."

             
"I sure will. I was just thinking how nice it is to have a woman in your life. You know, someone to eat with and talk to, and protect. A man
ain't
really a man unless he's got someone to look after."