The Golden Rules of Love: Western Romance (20 page)

“If we do find what we are looking for, other miners will recognize it in a sack. We don’t want anyone to know what we are carrying.”

Everyone nodded their understanding. “Do you know for sure where it is, Annie?” Cookie asked.

“I don’t rightly know. I think I do but there’s a chance I’m wrong.” The tension in the group rose.

“Go ahead and tell them what you’re going to do with it, Annie.” Mack placed a hand at her back, giving her an encouraging look.

“Well,” she swallowed. “First I’m going to help Mack set up his business. He’s earned it, as he has supported all of us.” Everyone nodded in agreement. “Then I’m going to split the rest with all of you.”

Mary Beth was the first to speak. “Oh Annie, that’s your money. Garrett died making sure you got it.”

“And I might have died if it hadn’t been for all of you.  I don’t need or want all of it, but I need all of you. You are like family to me and we are in this trip together.”

Tom slapped his hat on his knee. “If Annie’s giving me a share, I’m putting my money into Mack’s business. If there is one man that can make something a success, it’s him.”

“Me too,” called Cookie. “Any chance a ship building company needs a cook?”

“I’m sure we can think of a way to make it work. Let’s try not to get our hopes up too high. Annie couldn’t check her theory of where the gold is hidden. We shouldn’t start spending money before we get it.”

Everyone nodded agreement. Though Cookie wanted to come, Mack convinced him to stay on the ship and guard all the belongings they did have. Rake, however, managed to climb down into the dingy. When Annie looked at him, he gave a tiny shrug, “I want to be there to see the end of this.”

She nodded, glancing at Mack. He was looking suspiciously at the other man.

The dingy was dangerously full but the water was calm and, with Mack and Tom rowing, they made it to the shore in record time. As they hit the beach, a soldier sat on a wagon, looking in their direction. He climbed off his seat and moved toward them.

“I’m looking for a Collin Mackinnon,” he addressed the group.

“I’m Collin.” Mack stepped up to the front of the group.

“The judge arrived early this morning. He’d like to speak with you.”

Mack nodded. “Let’s get this over with first.”

Rake seemed to pale considerably but climbed into the wagon with the rest of them.

Annie grimaced. What should she do about Rake? He had helped kidnap her but he had the best of intentions. She was anxious to look for the gold and worried about what the judge might rule. As Annie sat herself down next to Mack, she took a deep breath. It would all work out. It had to.

He held her hand and leaned down next to her ear, “We’ll talk to the judge about performing the ceremony too.”

She gave him a heartwarming smile.

***

They arrived at the base in short order and the judge sat behind a table of sorts. Men were lined up to speak with him. Apparently, they wanted a ruling on grievances.

Lieutenant Surrey came forward and ushered them over to the table. “This is the couple I was telling you about.”

“Pleased to meet you,” he said in a brusque tone. “I’ve already spoken to the prisoner. Let’s hear your side with as much brevity as you can.”

Annie proceeded to tell him the story of how she came to San Francisco, what Jasper did and what he confessed to. The others chimed in with what they saw and heard. Rake stepped next to her. “I saw him shoot the reverend and he shot me too.”

“And what were you doing there during the kidnapping?” The judge’s knowing eyes zeroed in on Rake.

“He was trying to save me, sir.” Annie was telling the truth, though she was most assuredly leaving information out. She swallowed when his gaze swung back to her.

“Very well. With multiple eyewitnesses and a confession I can easily rule with a guilty verdict. The hanging will take place tomorrow.”

Annie felt a jolt run through her. She knew Jasper was bad and she would truly sleep better knowing he was gone but knowing a man she had travelled halfway across the country to find would die because of her testimony, made her weak inside.

Mack’s hand came to her back, as if he could sense that she needed him. Rake also patted her forearm. She took a deep breath. “There won’t be a trial or anything?”

“This isn’t a state, it’s a territory. While I have been given jurisdiction, the same laws do not apply here. There are too few judges to warrant a trial for crimes, so my ruling is the law. Good day.” He turned to dismiss them.

“One more thing, Your Honor.” Mack stepped forward. “I’d like to marry Annie and I am hoping you’ll be willing to perform the ceremony.”

“You’re not actually married?” Lieutenant Surrey huffed from the other side of the judge.

“Well, I am only in town for a short time, but a wedding would be a welcome change. I’ll need a few days to process the license but the day after tomorrow will do just fine.”

Mack nodded, looking relieved. “How about the beach, near the docks?” Mack asked.

The judge nodded.

“Hang on,” Tom called from the back of the group. He knelt down in front of Mary Beth and the crowd cleared in front of him. “Mary Beth, will you marry me?”

“It’s about time,” she groused while grinning from ear to ear. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

Tom popped up. “Can you make that two licenses?” Tom had a grin to match Mary Beth’s.

The judge took all of their information and then the group set out on foot to head back to the cave.

Rake sidled up next to Annie, “I don’t know how to say thank you for what you did. You could have told the judge and…”

“I’m trusting that you made a mistake and that you won’t make it again.” She gave him a hard stare.

“I won’t, Annie. I was wrong about you and I was wrong to do what I did. It isn’t many times a man gets a second chance like you’ve given me and I will make the most of it.”

Annie nodded.

“You did the right thing,” Mack said, giving her a reassuring smile.

“I thought you hadn’t forgiven him?” Annie looked over at him.

“I haven’t. But I do believe he just made a mistake and he will spend the return trip home paying for it by doing every awful job there is on the boat.”

Annie grimaced. She felt a little a little sorry for Rake. She had been on the receiving end of Mack’s anger and it wasn’t easy.

They reached the mouth of the cave and Fergal bounced on his heels as he entered first. “This is the most fun I’ve had in months.”

“Fun? You’ve got to be kidding me!” Mack barked at his brother.

Fergal punched his brother’s arm. “I forgot how good it felt to be part of a group. To have people look out for each other.”

Mack looked at his brother and then slapped him on the back as he gave him a quick hug.

“Enough hugging,” Tom called. “Annie, where do you think the gold is?” Tom was bouncing too.

“In Garrett’s letter he said, ’It’s in the heart, Annie.’ I thought he was telling me he loved me. But when I came into the cave…” she pointed at the heart-shaped rock. A collective gasp rose from the group. They all rushed to inspect the rock.

Mack carefully peeled the rock away from the others it was leaning on. Sure enough, a hole had been chipped in the back. Mack carefully pulled the first gold bar out and two more fell out with it.”

“I’ll be damned,” Mary Beth whispered, covering her mouth with her hand.

Mack grabbed the basket he had brought. “He put a chisel and a pan at the bottom. Then he carefully set the bars inside. A blanket went next then several odds and ends from the room. “It will look like we are just pilfering goods,” he whispered, though it was unlikely anyone would hear.

Annie looked at the rock. It was the proof she had been looking for that Garrett had loved her all along. That he hadn’t just abandoned her and that she was lovable. “Collin, can we borrow a wagon and take the rock with us?”

“Of course.” She was grateful that he didn’t ask her why.

“What are we going to do with the gold?” Finnigan whispered.

“We can take it with us and exchange it back East but we’d probably get the best exchange here.” Mack grimaced.

“We can exchange it together, right before we leave,” Annie said. “There is an office just off the beach. Everyone will go so we’ll be difficult to rob.”

“That’s brilliant.” Tom slapped his thigh with his hand. “Everyone has trouble getting the gold out but no one thinks to work as a team. They all try to do it themselves.”

“That has always been our strong suit,” Mack said as he hugged Annie. “Now let’s get these goods back to the ship.”

***

Two days later, Mack and Annie and Tom and Mary Beth married on the beach, as a pink sunset lit their vows with a soft glow. The judge was short and to the point with the ceremony, but that suited Annie just fine. She had waited her whole life to find a man like Mack and she didn’t want to wait another second to start her new life with him.

“We are here today to join these two in matrimony. Do you, Collin Mackinnon, take Annie Sullivan to be your wife?”

“I do,” Mack answered, clasping both of her hands in.

“And do you, Annie Sullivan, take Collin Mackinnon to be your husband?”

“I do.” Annie felt her heart swell with pride to be married to such a man.

When the judge said, “I pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride,” Mack grinned and planted a big kiss on Annie’s lips. Everyone hooted and hollered.

“That’s enough now. Next couple.” The judge waved them out of the way. Annie grinned at Mary Beth. A woman couldn’t ask for a better best friend and now they shared a wedding day.

After the ceremony, they headed back to the boat. Cookie had prepared his finest cuisine that Annie was sure would include baked beans. Then she and Mack would spend the night together. Her heart beat in anticipation. In the morning, they would turn in their gold and set sail.

As they approached the ship, a blanket was hung over the bow. “What’s that?” Annie asked, turning to Mack.

He didn’t respond. Instead, he grinned at her and raised his arm above his head then dropped it down. The blanket billowed into the sea. Freshly painted, the boat now bore the letters, ANNIE.

“You named the boat after me?” she gasped.

“I hope you like it. But it is the first official boat in the fleet and I wanted it to be named after the woman who changed my life.”

“I love it, Collin Mackinnon. I love you.”

“I love you too, Annie Mackinnon.”

As the dingy pulled alongside the ship, Annie nearly hopped out to reach the rope ladder.

Mack jumped after her, “That’s not like you.”

“I’m eager to start my life with you,” she answered with a laugh.

Mack climbed a few rungs on the ladder until his feet were one rung below hers and their faces were level.  Annie turned to face him, and he raised his hand to caress her cheek. “Me too, Annie. Me too.” He kissed her as they floated above the ocean in the last rays of the sun.

THE GOLDEN RULES OF LOVE

EPILOGUE