Cole's Redemption (Love Amongst the Pines) (9 page)

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. Jumping up from his hiding place, he sprinted across the yard.

             
"Hold it right there, Lester!" He shouted out.
Biggens
tossed down his weapon and threw his hands in the air.

             
Natty dropped her own pistol and dived for Cole. Without meaning to, she landed flat on him, once again hitting his bandaged hands. He let out a half conscious grunt and fell silent.

             
"Oh God! Cole! Are you all right!
"
Natty sat back and grabbed her husband by the shoulders. Shaking him, she continued to call out.
             
"Please, Cole, answer me!"

             
"Hang on there, Nat,
yer
gonna
kill him if he
ain't
already dead!" Dermott called from the open door.

             
"He's right. Best set back a bit, and let him wake up on his own," Judge told her. "I'll take care of this varmint. You just watch over him."

             
"Now Judge,"
Biggins
started, "I didn't do nothing that they didn't have coming! That polecat's been attacking me since last January, and I've had me fair enough!"

             
"I can see you're pretty upset, Lester, but we've talked about this before. It's not Natalie's fault that her uncle is a bit on the simple side. I've told you already, if you have trouble just come and get me. I'll make sure he leaves you alone. Now, I've got to haul you into jail and mess up this fine picnic I've planned. That sure does make me sore as hell."

             
"I'm mighty sorry judge. But I
ain't
puttin
' up with no more. You'll just have to lock me up."

             
"You know, I think that young fella there had a pretty good idea. How about we forget all this shooting and hollering and just patch things up. From now on, we make sure that Dermott stays away from your property, and they give you half of the fish they catch. Of course, you'll have to make up for the damages to the front of the house and the window."

             
"But Judge, they started it! Why should I have to pay up?"

             
"I know a little fish guts
ain't
pleasant to wake up to, but you damn near to destroyed their shack...um, cabin. Why don't you just bring over some of that nice pine you cut last week? That ought to make up for the damages."

             
"Well, I guess that'll do. What about my outhouse? That old goat burnt it clear to the ground."

             
Judged nodded thoughtfully. "When that young fella's hands get healed, he could come and help you put up another one. Hopefully, it'll be before winter sets in."

             
Before
Biggins
set off, he glanced down at Cole's hands. "What the hell happened to him, anyway?"

             
Judge chuckled. "He had a run in with the blacksmith and a sledgehammer. It's a long story."

             
After
Biggins
waddled off, Judge turned his attention to the pale figure on the ground. "Come on Dermott, let's get this young pup inside." He bent down and gently lifted Cole's shoulders, careful not to jar his hands. Even that small amount of movement produced a pain filled moan. Dermott lifted Cole's legs, they carried him into the cabin and, once inside, they laid him on the cot. In the next half-hour, while he remained blessedly unconscious, Natty tended to his hands, soaking off the old linens, and replacing them yet again.

             
"Well, Nat, looks like you've taken well to being his nurse," Judge commented as she sat back to survey her handiwork.

             
"Aw, he's really no trouble at all. I mean, he's hurt pretty bad, but he's been right nice about it all."

             
"I can see that. It was a pretty brave thing he did, facing off
ol
' Lester."

             
Natty fairly beamed. "Yes it was!" Her expression softened. "Oh, Judge, how am I going to keep
Derm
off Lester's property? He don't understand he can't do stuff like that!"

             
"I know that, Natalie. I was
kinda
hoping that your young man would help you keep him in line. It doesn't look like he's going to be able to do that for a while yet."

             
"You're not going to put Dermott in jail, are you?" Natty kept her voice to a low whisper. "He'd die if he was locked up!"

             
"I know that. No, jail isn't the place for Dermott. He needs a full time keeper. Let me think on it a bit, and we'll see what I can come up with. I think I'll stay on a few days to help fix up the damages to the cabin. Right now, if it rains you're going to need a canoe to get around in here."

             
Cole wasn't sure just how many hours had passed when he
woke to the sound of hammering. Struggling to sit up, he saw that evening had set in; fire burned in the hearth, and his child bride was seated beside her Dutch oven slowly stirring the boiling pot.
Natty's
eyes were closed. In the dim light of the fire, she looked more like a wood sprite than a real woman. The shadows danced across her form giving her the countenance of a twilight angel.

             
Mesmerized, Cole watched her every move, from the way her hand lazily guided the spoon through the soup, to the quick rising and falling of her chest as she drank in each breath. It took all of his willpower to look away.

             
Dropping his sight down at his hands, Cole noticed that again the dressings had been changed, and that he'd been cleaned up, and now wore a new set of clothes. His form was covered in an oversized white shirt and black trousers.

             
"Well, our boy's finally up," the Judge announced over him. "
How's them hands
?" The Judge had been hammering on a piece of wood, sealing up the last patch of the open window.

             
Cole eyed him narrowly, "Hurts like hell. Feels like somebody dropped a couple of anvils on them."

             
Judge laughed. "I imagine it does. If it means anything, I think
Stef
Geary might have pulled a groin muscle carrying the hammer back to his shop."

             
"It would make me feel better if he'd dropped it on his groin, instead," Cole grimaced.

             
"Dinner's ready," Natty chimed in behind them.

             
"Think you want to try to sit at the table? I'll help you over," the Judge offered.

             
"I can make it," Cole stated, though in reality he doubted it. Fortunately, his nature and his pride helped him limp over to the table and take one of the two chairs.

             
Dermott came inside carrying two empty crates and set them down beside the table, one for Natty to sit on, and one for
himself
.

             
"I sure am hungry, Judge," he stated joyously. "Thank you for
bringin
' that hunk of beef over. I swear I could eat the whole thing."

             
"Consider it a wedding gift," Judge smiled as he tipped his tin cup in
Natty's
direction.

             
"We surely do appreciate it. And apple cider, too! I
ain't
had any cider since I was a girl." Natty added.

             
Cole remained quiet. Once again, guilt at his own abundant childhood assailed him.

             
"Are you hungry, Cole?" Natty asked, quietly.

             
Glancing over, he could see the hope in her eyes. He found himself shocked that she really cared about his wellbeing. Despite a ravenous hunger that was beginning to build, he nodded towards the full table.

             
"Yeah, I am. But you go ahead and eat. I can wait."

             
"Nonsense. I've been nibbling all day. I made a special bread pudding for desert. You do like bread pudding, don't you Cole?"

             
"It sounds heavenly." In truth, it had been months since he'd had more than a trail meal. The simple table she set could have been a king's feast compared to his own sparse suppers. "You didn't have to go to any trouble on my account."

             
"Oh, it wasn't any trouble. I don't get a chance to cook for company much."

             
"Considering what brought me here, I don't know if I qualify as 'company.'

             
"You do look a bit peaked, Cole." Judge motioned towards the table. "Go on, Natty, fill the boy up."

             
It wasn't long before Natty took his mind off of his aching hands and chased away his melancholia with her pleasant conversation. She and Judge discussed all of the county's gossip and current events. Both of them agreed that civilization was coming on too fast and, before long, they'd all be as crowded as bees in a bottle.

             
Natty got up to clear the last of the pudding plates, when the Judge cleared his throat.

             
"Natalie, girl, I don't know when I've had a more enjoyable meal."

             
"Oh, Judge, I know better. Them widows in town are always falling all over themselves trying to snare you with their cooking and compliments."

             
He laughed. "I guess you're right about that. Too bad they don't know I only have a heart for my
Tildy
. It would take a mighty tall measure of a woman to take her place. Why, Natalie, if you were a few years older, and I was a few years younger, I'd be sparking you myself!"

             
Both laughed uproariously. Even Dermott cut loose, slapping his hands on his thighs.

             
"Hey Judge," he stated at last, "how about I play a couple of tunes on the mouth organ. I just learned them last month. I bet Natty would love to dance. She's a good dancer. It's too bad we
ain't
got an occasion for
dancin
' too often. There
ain't
no one here to cut a rug with her since I can't get around the floor much with this bad hip."

             
Before Natty could object,
the small room was cleared and, seated on a stool on the opposite wall
,
Dermott began his repertoire
. First, he treated them to a few rounds of 'Oh! Susanna', and then '
Camptown
Races.' Next, he played a couple of tunes that no one knew. While Cole was no music expert, his former social status had led him to various concerts in the east. Judging from the turn of the melodies, Cole suspected Dermott had made them up himself.

             
Too sore and tired to participate in the festivities, Cole relaxed back on his cot and watched the celebration. The Judge danced like a man twenty years his junior. In fact, he could certainly have been a younger man, Cole thought. The lawman carried no extra body weight and didn't suffer shortness of breath like so many of his age.

             
The true wonder was Natalie. She danced every step with perfection, twirling and whirling like she was the belle of the ball. In fact, he knew that if she were dressed properly and coming out in Boston society, she'd turn many a man's head, as well as incur vicious jealousy of every girl her age.

             
Despite her ragged, unkempt appearance, Natalie was grace itself. In her small stature, she moved like a willow in a gentle summer breeze. When the music slowed, she left the picture of the hard life urchin behind and became a sullen forest nymph. She could have been a fairy from ancient fable, or a street-wise sprite from a Dime novel.

             
Cole drew in an unsteady breath. With his hands aching and his eyes burning from exhaustion, he suddenly understood that before him was not just a woman to use for a man's own needs, but a beauty to be embraced, a spirit to be treasured. Natty Lane, a simple backwoods woman-child, with her dirty hair, and scruffy face was a creature to be worshipped. And, if he wasn't careful, worship her he would.

             
After the last of the music had faded, Judge watched the
dozing figure on the straw cot.

             
When Natty had gone out to empty the dishwater, Dermott sidled up to Judge.

             
"You know, Judge
,
" Dermott stated quietly, "that boy looks a mite upset. I wonder what's bothering him?"