HisBootsUnderHerBed (22 page)

A
fter the priest left, Garth thought for a long moment, then shot to his feet and strode to Elena’s door. Clutching a belted robe around her, Elena opened the door to his steady rapping, and her eyes widened in surprise at the sight of him.

“Aunt Elena, I’m sorry to have wakened you, but I must talk to Rory.”

“She is asleep. And at this hour it would not be proper, nephew. Have you not heard it is unlucky for a man to see his bride on their wedding day before they exchange their vows?”

“But this is important and can’t wait. It would be more unlucky if I waited until after the wedding to tell her.”

“Oh, you are so much like your uncle,” she said affectionately. “Henry was always so urgent. Wait here, I will wake her.”

She closed the door and a few minutes later, sleepy-eyed, hair tousled, and wearing a robe twice her size, Rory appeared in the doorway.

One look and his heart swelled with love.

“What’s wrong, Garth?” she asked worriedly.

“I have to talk to you privately.”

“That is not proper,” Elena said, appearing beside Rory.

“I swear on my uncle’s grave, Aunt Elena, I won’t do anything you’d disapprove of. We won’t budge from this porch.”

“Then I will allow it, but only for a few moments.”

“Thank you, sweetheart. I love you.” He clasped her cheeks between his hands and kissed her.

“Now I am
sure
you are just like your uncle,” Elena said, trying not to smile. She closed the door.

Garth took Rory’s hand and led her to the stoop. “Sit down, honey.”

“What is this all about, Garth?”

“It concerns something that might affect our getting married. Rory, how much do you love me?”

“I thought I have made that very clear.”

“But what if I gave you the rest of the gold? If I were penniless and you were wealthy, would you still want to marry me?”

“Of course I would. I’m in
love
with you! Garth, stop talking in riddles.”

“I think we should give the gold to Elena and Rico. They’re my Uncle Henry’s proper heirs.”

“What are you talking about now?”

“Did Elena tell you what Father Chavez wanted to talk to me about tonight?”

“No, I was sleeping when she returned to her room. I remember waking up once and hearing your brothers making a lot of noise on the patio, but I was too sleepy to find out what all the whooping and hollering was about. I thought you all were getting a head start on the wedding celebration.”

“Well, we were celebrating a wedding that happened twenty years ago.”

When he finished telling Rory the whole story, she sat in silence for a long moment.

“I knew there was a family resemblance,” she said, when she finally spoke.

“Is that all you’ve got to say about it? I just told you I want to give away our share of the gold. That mine no more belongs to me, than it did to Paddy and you. It belongs to Uncle Henry’s wife and son.”

“And you’re willing to give up all that gold that you worked so hard for?” she asked.

“Let’s be realistic, honey; I didn’t work that hard. Plowing, planting, and harvesting a field is a lot more work and takes a damn sight longer to do. That’s why I want to know if you’re still willing to marry me—because we won’t even have two pennies to rub together.”

Her eyes glistened with tears as she slipped her arms around his neck. “If that’s the only problem, I can come up with two pennies. That’s a start, isn’t it?”

“Sweetheart, I love you!” Unable to resist the temptation of her nearness, he kissed her, but pulled away before he let himself get too fired up to stop.

“It would be nice if Paddy turned over his gold to them, too. I know they’ll donate most of it to the church, to prevent the mission from closing down. Father Chavez said the diocese is threatening to close it because it has become too costly to finance. Honey, they’ll retire him and send him away. He’s dedicated his life to this mission, and it will break his heart.”

“Won’t our gold be enough, if Pop does refuse?”

“I suppose so. But Paddy’s share of the gold still belongs to Aunt Elena and Rico.”

“You had me scared there for a moment. I thought you were trying to weasel out of marrying me.”

“Weasel out of it! What choice do I have? Didn’t you once tell me that you were saving yourself for the man you married?”

“Yes,” she eyed him warily. “There you go again. What’s that supposed to mean?”

He grinned, and hugged her tighter. “You
did
, sweetheart. You did.” Then the grin faded, replaced by a tender smile. “I love you, Rory. And some day I’ll give you that happy home and security you’ve always yearned for. But for now, I can only promise you a husband that loves you very much.”

“That’s all I’ve ever really wanted. And I could never know more security than I do when you hold me in your arms.”

Rory gazed into the warmth and love in his beautiful brown eyes. She loved this man beyond reason, and whatever he wanted for their future would be her wish, too.

She gently stroked his cheek. “But what of your dreams, beloved? The pot of gold you dreamed of finding at the end of the rainbow? Are you certain you’re ready to give up that dream?”

“I’m holding the greatest treasure I could ever hope to find in my arms right now.”

“Not anymore, nephew,” Elena suddenly declared behind them. “She is coming inside and going to bed. The poor dear needs her sleep.” She took Rory by the hand. “I am putting her to bed again, and then I want to speak to you. Wait until I come back.”

“Good night, sweetheart,” he said.

Rory smiled, waved good-bye, and allowed herself to be led back inside.

“Oh, boy, Saddle!” Garth moaned. “I’m already in hot water with my brand-new aunt.”

Elena returned within minutes and took a ring out of her pocket. “This was my wedding ring.” She handed him the plain gold band. “Your uncle forged it himself out of the gold he had discovered.”

“I can’t take this,” Garth said, stunned.

“I want you to, and I know Henry would want you to have it.”

“But Rico’s his son. It should be passed on to him.”

“Rico is the one who suggested it, my nephew. He respects the traditions that meant so much to his father, and he knows how much these traditions mean to you, as well. This will be passed on for generations, and as long as it is passed on, the memory of the man who made it will be, too.

“I remember how Henry’s eyes shone when he told me how your mother’s wedding ring had been passed down to her from your grandmother, who in turn had received it from your great-grandmother. And now, passed to your older brother, his wife wears it, and will in turn pass it on to the next generation. It is a wonderful tradition, and it pleases us to think that the ring Henry had made will be passed on to the bride of his favorite nephew. Both Rico and I want that for him. Not only will it always be a link to him, but it will always be a link to us, as well.”

Garth could not refuse. He hugged and kissed her. “I can’t thank you enough, Aunt Elena. And I hope one day, when we pass the ring on to our child, Rory and I can tell them the amazing story about their Grand-uncle Henry, and how his dream had brought their mother and father together.”

He put the ring in his pocket and started to walk away, then drew up sharply when he saw Saddle poised in hunting position, looking at the rear of the house.

“Saddle, what is it, pal? Did you flush out a—”

A scream rent the silent night, and barking, Saddle raced to the house as Garth dashed after him.

Benito was running out of time; it would be daylight before he knew it. Then there would be no chance to kill her and get away. Throughout the evening, the woman had
not been alone. Either the old woman or the gringos were with her. And even though none of them were wearing gun belts, he would never be able to get near the woman without them interfering.

He watched the housekeeper take the girl inside, and come out again to talk to the gringo. This was the chance he was waiting for.

Benito slipped in the back door into the dark kitchen. As he moved toward the bedroom door the floor creaked loudly underfoot, and he paused to be sure no one had heard.

The old priest’s quarters were on the far side of the building; he could hear the murmurs of the gringos and housekeeper’s voices coming from outside, but where was the dog? He could not remember seeing it outside with the jefe. What if it was in the room with the girl? He would have to take the chance.

He turned the doorknob, and the door creaked as he opened it.

Rory lay thinking about marrying Garth. She still couldn’t believe that in a few hours she would be his wife. She never thought it was possible to love someone so much that you willingly would die for them—or with them.

But that was behind them now. Tomorrow, a future together lay ahead of them.

When she heard the door creak open, she turned her head, smiling. “Elena, how long does a wedding…”

She screamed at the sight of the man in the doorway. He leaped at her, and she rolled off the bed and escaped the knife thrust meant for her. Elena came running with a lamp just as Saddle burst through the door, Garth at his heels.

Benito grabbed Rory and yanked her to her feet. Using her as a shield, he held the knife against her throat.

“Stay back, or I will kill her,” he warned.

Teeth bared and snarling, Saddle edged forward, threatening to strike, but Garth ordered the dog to be still.

“If you draw one drop of her blood, I’ll let him rip you apart,” Garth said.

“Tie up the dog, mujer,” he said to Elena.

Garth nodded. “Go with her, Saddle.” Elena quickly put the dog in the closet and closed the door.

“Move away, jefe, or I kill her now.
¡Dése prisa! ¡Dése prisa!
”

“He wants us to hurry,” Elena said.

Garth could see the man’s hand was shaking; any slip could injure Rory. “Honey, just stay calm. Nothing’s going to happen to you.” He stepped aside.

“Hey, what’s going on?” Colt shouted from outside.

“Tell them to get back,” Benito ordered, “or else the woman dies.”

“Back off, we’re coming out,” Garth shouted, then glared at him. “I warned you; one drop of her blood and you’re dead!”

He and Elena stepped outside, followed by Benito, still holding Rory as a shield with the knife against her throat.

His brothers and Rico each had pistols in their hands.

“Give him room, boys, I don’t want Rory hurt.”

Paddy stood speechless, seeing the peril his daughter was in.

“Please, no shooting,” Father Chavez said.

“No offense, Father,” Clay said, “but we’re not going to just stand here and watch that bastard cut her throat.”

“No, we promised Father Chavez, no shooting,” Garth said, moving a step closer to the outlaw.

“My son, let the woman go. Nothing will be gained if you harm her,” Father Chavez pleaded.

“They will kill me if I let her go, and if they don’t do as I say, I will kill her now. Put your guns down.”

“Garth, I can put a bullet between his eyes before he even knows what hit him,” Colt said.

“No, just do as he says,” Garth said, taking another step closer.

Rico spoke to the man in rapid Spanish, and when they were finished, he said, “I asked him why he’s trying to kill Rory. He said for revenge. We killed his father and brother.”

“What’s he talking about?” Garth asked.

“He was one of the bandits that attacked you on the mountain.”

“My God! They were trying to slaughter us, and he wants revenge!”

Garth was incensed at the thought that this was the second time this man had tried to kill the woman he loved. He would have raped her to death, along with his father and brother and their twelve other companions. The son of a bitch had just signed his own death warrant.

He was within striking distance of the man now, and he glanced at Rory as Rico continued to ask him questions in Spanish. The fear in her eyes turned to understanding when she read the message in his. Without moving his hand, he raised three fingers slightly. Her look told him she understood.

He raised one finger, then another, and on the third he dove for the man’s arm as Rory shoved her elbow into the man’s rib.

Garth twisted the man’s arm until he screamed with pain and dropped the knife. The he punched him in the jaw, sending the bandit reeling. Out of control now, Garth drove him back and slammed him into the wall, then began to pummel the man.

“Stop him! Stop him!” Father Chavez cried out in despair. “He’s killing him!”

It took all the strength of the three men to pull Garth off the man.

Rory ran into his arms and he held her quivering body, unaware that he was shaking equally as much.

Sobbing and bloody, Benito staggered over to Father Chavez and sank to his knees, crying and begging for help.

The priest talked to him in low tones for several moments, then raised his head and looked at the group a short distance away.

“I told him he could leave,” Father Chavez said.

“You mean let him go?” Clay said. “Father, he came here to kill Rory.”

“I know, but can’t you see he’s a broken man now? I don’t believe he will ever try to hurt anyone again.”

“That’s naïve, Father,” Clay said. “You don’t know how many other innocent people this man has murdered. He should be locked up, tried for murder, and hanged.”

“We have no sheriff here, no jail. Are we to be this man’s judge and hangman?”

“Does that mean you allow murderers to run free?” Colt asked.

“What do you suggest we do, Colt?”

“Since I don’t shoot unarmed men, I don’t know. You shouldn’t have stopped me while he was holding the knife to Rory’s throat.”

“What do you suggest, Garth?” Clay asked.

Garth went over to Benito, who was huddled on the floor weeping. “Get out of my sight. And if I see you again, I’ll strangle you with my own two hands.”

“You figure he might be back?” Clay asked.

“Not if he enjoys breathing,” Garth said. “He’s terrorized Rory two times; if he tries a third, he’s not going to walk away from it.”