Rosa's Land: Western Justice - book 1 (36 page)

Riordan and Rosa came in from a ride. They dismounted, tied their horses to the rails, and started into the house.

“Let’s go get something to drink,” Rosa said. “I wish we had some ice. At least the water will be wet.”

The two went inside.

Rosa went out to the springhouse and brought in a cool pitcher of water. “We’ve got enough lemons and sugar for lemonade.”

“Sounds good.”

Rosa made the lemonade efficiently and handed him a glass. “You always had ice available in the city, didn’t you, Faye?”

“Pretty much. I don’t miss it all that much, though.” He drank several swallows and said, “There. That washes the dust down.”

They sat there talking idly, and finally he reached over and took her hand. He looked at it.

She watched him, wondering what he was thinking. Her hand was strong and showed signs of work.

He smiled at her and tightened his grip on her hand. “You’ve got strong hands,” he remarked. “I like that. How do you feel now?”

She smiled and said, “For the first time in my life, I’m content, Faye. I never knew where I was going. All I could see was another day in that vile saloon where I had to fight men off. But now it’s different.”

“I’m glad, but you still looked concerned about something. Please tell me about it.”

“Well, I’m a little worried. If we stay here in the Territory, it’ll be simple.”

“You mean nobody pays any attention to intermarriage here.”

“That’s exactly right,” Rosa said. “But if we go to your home in the East, some people would be unkind. I’d bring shame to you.”

“You think that bothers me?” Riordan said at once. He extended his other hand and held her in a grip. “I love you, Rosa, and if we have to live at the North Pole, that’ll suit me fine.”

She laughed and shook her head. “I don’t want to live in all that ice.”

“Our parents have talked about this.”

“What do they say?”

“Well, they say that they’re so glad to have me back alive they’ll be happy to see me married.”

The two sat there sipping the lemonade.

Finally Rosa said, “We haven’t had time to think about it. I’d like to get you away from this place. Somewhere it will be safe. Beecher won’t stop until he kills you, Faye. You know that.”

“That’s the kind of man he is. I hate to run, though. It seems cowardly.”

“It’s either that or face him, and you said you didn’t want to shoot another man.”

“I don’t. I don’t want to ever kill another human being. So I talked to my mother, and we’ve come up with a plan. She is a very wise woman.”

“What sort of plan?”

“We’ll get married, and then we’ll go to the East, but not for very long at our home. I’d like to go somewhere in the Smoky Mountains. It’s beautiful there. We could have a fine honeymoon.” He grinned. “Did you know that the Bible says that when the Hebrews married, the man didn’t go to work for a year?”

She stared at him in disbelief. “What did he do?”

“The Bible says he just made his wife happy.”

Rosa suddenly laughed. “I like that a great deal. Yes, we’ll do that. You can just please me for a year.”

“I’m serious, Rosa. We’ll go to the Blue Ridge Mountains, and we’ll do two things. We’ll have a great time just being in love with each other and enjoying the scenery and just being together. And I’ll be painting, and you’ll be in my schoolroom.”

“What does that mean?”

“Well, there are ways that Easterners have that you’ll need to know about. Nothing too difficult—what to wear, what utensils to use at a meal, things like that.”

“You consider yourself an expert in women’s clothing?”

“Oh, definitely!” Riordan grinned broadly then dropped Rosa’s hands and rubbed his palm across his chin. “I could teach you which fork to use. We’ll be among some high-class people there. So when we go back to my home, everyone will fall in love with you, just as I have.”

“It sounds too good to be true.”

“Well, here’s what I’d really like to do. I’d like for us to have a house here somewhere. Not a fancy one. Just someplace we could come. I love the West. I’d like to do some painting here of the people, the cowboys, the Indians, even the outlaws and the marshals. We could spend half our time here and then have a house somewhere close to my parents and go spend time with them. That way both families will have their grandchildren close. By the way, I’d like to have a great number of children. We’ll talk about that. How do you like my plans, sweetheart?”

“I love them!”

“Good. Now about these children. I’d like to have at least four. You can have them one at a time or all at once….”

The house was busy with people getting ready to make the trip to Fort Smith. Riordan had gotten up that morning and said, “I want to get rid of this badge. It’s like a weight on me.”

“You sure you want to do this?” Mateo said. “It’s quite an honor to be a marshal.”

“Yes, they’re great men, but it’s not for me, Mateo. I want to give this badge back to Judge Parker and put this gun away for good.”

“I think that’s wonderful.” Eileen beamed.

“You’ve proven what you are—a real man.” Caleb nodded. “Now, it’s time to move on to a new life. I love the idea of you two spending half your time close to us, and half here. That’ll make all of us happy. Won’t it, Mateo?”

“I think we’d all better take the hands with us,” Rosa said.

Instantly Riordan looked at her. “You’re thinking we might run into Henry along the way and his bunch?”

“I think he’d like nothing better than to catch you out alone.”

“All right. We’ll all go. Just leave a few hands here to take care of things.”

They left as soon as they had finished packing and made the trip in record time. When they pulled the buggies up in front of Judge Parker’s office and tied their horses, Riordan went upstairs at once. His parents and Rosa followed.

They found Judge Parker at his desk, as usual. He rose at once and said, “Well, Marshal, I’m surprised to see you.” He came around and shook Riordan’s hand. “The whole Territory is talking about how you took this young lady away from Henry.”

“It was mostly Gray Hawk,” Riordan said.

“Well, in any case you got her back. I was trying to scrape a big posse together to go after her, but you never know about Henry. He might have killed her just out of spite.”

Riordan reached up, unpinned his badge, and said, “I appreciate you letting me serve with you, Judge Parker, but I’ll be leaving now. We’re going back East for a time.”

“Well, I think that may be a good idea. Sooner or later we’ll catch up with Beecher. Nothing would please me better than to see him hang on that gallows out there.”

“Judge, I want to thank you for taking care of my boy,” Eileen said.

“Why, it’s more like he took care of us.” Parker smiled. “I’ll be losing a good man, but you were meant for a different kind of life. Besides, it’s good that you’re leaving the Territory. Beecher won’t ever forget you made a fool of him. I’ve been talking to Heck Thomas. We’ve got a number of marshals available. They’re going to leave soon and run the Fox into the ground. We’ll get him. Don’t worry about that.”

“Thank you, Judge. I’ll see you again before we leave.”

“Write me when you get settled. I’d like to see some of those pictures of yours sometime.”

“I’ll paint one and ship it to you.” Riordan smiled.

They made their good-byes to the judge and went back to the street.

“You feel better now, Faye,” Rosa asked, “I mean not being a marshal?”

“It was getting to be a heavy thing. They’re noble men, most of them, but just not for me.”

They were headed for the restaurant, both families, and suddenly a shock ran through Riordan, for Henry Beecher stepped out of an alleyway. He had his gun drawn, and it was pointed directly at Riordan.

“Don’t move, Riordan. I’ve got my men posted along the street.”

“You’re making a mistake, Henry.”

“No, my mistake would have been if I tried to match draws with you. I’ve heard about that draw of yours, and I don’t care to test it.”

“I don’t have a gun on me, Henry.”

“I don’t believe that. You always have a gun.”

“Not anymore I don’t, and I’m not a marshal anymore.”

Beecher scowled. “I know you’ve got a hideout somewhere.”

“No, I don’t. I don’t ever want to shoot anyone else.”

“You’re a liar!” Beecher shouted. “I’ll give you a break. I count to three, and on ‘three’ you go for that hideout.”

Judge Parker’s voice came, “Beecher, you’re under arrest.”

Beecher looked up and saw Judge Parker leaning out the window. “You won’t get me this time, Judge. All your marshals are gone out on a job. I found that out. I’m taking Riordan out.”

“You’ll hang if you do.”

Beecher merely laughed. His eyes were alight. It was the kind of situation he liked. “All right. On the count of three. One—two—” On the count of two, Beecher fired.

Riordan thought he could feel the hiss of the bullet passing close to his ear. He did not have time to move, but he suddenly realized that there was another gunshot right on the heels of the first. He saw a black spot appear in the center of Beecher’s forehead. Beecher’s eyes went dead, and he simply collapsed, dropping his gun in the dust.

Riordan whirled and saw that Ringo was pulling his gun up. “You owe me for that one, Riordan.” Ringo grinned. “I’m going to claim the reward on this scoundrel, and then I’m going to have me a high time.”

“He died like he lived,” Caleb said. “A cheat and a liar.”

Beecher’s men began to scatter. They mounted their horses and rode out.

“Well, they’ll break up now. Henry was the brains of the outfit,” Riordan said. He turned to face Rosa and saw her face was pale. “Don’t be afraid. It’s all over.”

Rosa whispered, “God kept you from killing him.”

“Yes, and I’m thankful for it. All I want is you and some peace.”

“You can have me, and we’ll see about the peace.” She giggled.

A crowd was gathering. Some were bending over Beecher, but Riordan said, “I don’t want to see him. Let’s get out of here. We’re safe now. God has answered our prayers for peace.”

Rosa and Riordan got out of the buggy and stood looking at the small cabin. “Not much of a honeymoon spot.”

“But the mountains are so beautiful,” Rosa said. She turned to look at the rolling hills that seemed lost in a blue haze. The air was clear, and the forest was thick. “This is such a beautiful place.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

“Whose house is it?”

“Well, it’s ours for a week.” Riordan reached over and put his arms around her. “I’ve got just one week to teach you how to be a good wife.”

Rosa laughed and threw her arms around him. She drew him down and kissed him and said, “It’s going to take longer than that for me to teach you how to be a good husband.”

“Come on. Let’s look at the inside.” They went to the door, and he opened it then turned and suddenly swept her into his arms. “An old custom. The groom always carries the bride over the threshold.” He walked inside and put her down. They stood looking around. “Looks like a palace to me.”

“Plenty of peace here. That’s what you wanted, Faye, me and peace.”

“Right.”

They found another door and saw a large bed. “This is the bedroom. I hope you like it.” He smiled at her. “You’ll be spending a lot of time here.”

She hit him on the shoulder, laughing.

“I’ll go bring the things in. You can cook me a fine meal while I rest up. Getting married is hard work.” He looked thoughtful then said, “Which case has the white silk nightgown my mother bought you?”

“Never mind. Just bring it all in. I think I’m going to wear my old flannel gown. It’s sort of ratty, but after all, you should have to work to get the white silk one.”

They suddenly reached for each other, and he kissed her gently and then with fervor. “We’re going to have a wonderful life.”

“Yes, and four beautiful children—one at a time,” she smiled.

They clung to each other as they rested in the peace God had provided. A peaceful place to begin their married life together, a peace from having to fight outlaws, and the most important peace … the peace residing in each heart given to God in faith and love.