Marshal of Hel Dorado (44 page)

 
    
“You have doubts.”

 
    
“I am afraid for him.”

 
    
Quanto shook his head. “A pairing is only
as strong as the faith one mate has in the other.

 
    
You must trust him to know his own heart as
he must trust you to do the same.”

 
    
“And if he gets hurt?”

 
    
“Then he is alive. What is life without
pain? What is joy without sorrow? Would the spring be so sweet if not for the
cold winter before it?” Quanto shrugged. “Life is what happens when our world
is imperfect. It is a rare gift to love one through those times, to be there,
ever the shelter in the storm, no matter whence the storm comes.”

 
    
“I already told him yes,” she confessed and
Quanto threw his head back, laughter escaping to the sky.

 
    
“Then you must invite me to the wedding, or
better, your Sam must invite me if what your brothers tell me is true.”

 
    
“Are they all right?”

 
    
“Of course they are. They have already
dealt with the ones who hunt you. Cody is most pleased with himself.”

 
    
Relief washed over her. “Father?”

 
    
“Yes?”

 
    
“Will Cody really be okay?”

 
    
“In time. His wolf will mourn, it is their
way. But Cody loves you and knows you are his sister in his heart and you will
ever be. When the mourning is passed, he will gladly embrace that again.”

 
    
It wasn’t fair for her to be so happy if it
hurt Cody, but she couldn’t trade her happiness for what would never be with
her brother.

 
    
“Sleep, daughter. Dream of the man you love
and the life you will build. I will watch your dreams and keep them peaceful.”

 
    
“Will you tell Buck and the others I am all
right?”

 
    
“Of course.” His voice drifted on the wind
as the dream faded.

 
    
Sam’s hand found her in the dark, his lips
pressing against her forehead. “Good chat with your father?”

 
    
She stared at him sleepily. “How did you
know?”

 
    
His grin glowed in the warm firelight. “He
allowed me to ask him permission. I assumed he’d visit you next.”

 
    
Scarlett laughed and reached for Sam even
as he reached for her. It would all work out.

 
    
Somehow.

 
    
T
hey
were both reluctant to leave their hidden grotto when the sun roused lazily in
the eastern sky, but Sam pressed them onwards. The next week, their days
followed a pattern. They rode, watchful for danger, but enjoying the time
together, talking and laughing. Sam was quieter than his brothers, but he told
her stories about all of them, even Jason whom she barely knew.

 
    
At night, they would make camp and spend
long hours curled together. Their bedrolls tucked under a blanket of stars.
Twice they were able to camp near a water source, they bathed, swam and played
like children. Then Scarlett would let her flames climb out to dance on the
water. His heart was full in his chest, watching her pure delight at every
release.

 
    
On the eighth morning, Sam recognized the
terrain, the lazy flow of the river, and the tumble of rocks, even the cattails
bending down to skim the surface of the water.

 
    
They were home.

 
    
They paralleled the river to a shallow spot
they could ford. “Scarlett, you know you’re welcome at the Flying K, and that
it’s your home too, now.”

 
    
She nodded, certainty shining in her eyes.
They’d discussed her brothers' worry about the barrier, but as their horses
splashed through the water, Scarlett’s smile never faltered.

 
    
Sam didn’t relax until the great house was
in sight, the late morning sun shining down like a beacon across the green
valley that was home. He guided them to the house, intent on settling Scarlett
in before taking the horses to the barn. He’d just dismounted when the judge
walked out onto the porch, an easy smile on his paunchy face.

 
    
“Marshal Kane.”

 
    
Swallowing a curse, Sam gave Scarlett a
reassuring look before turning to nod to the judge. “Sir.”

 
    
But the Judge wasn’t the worst of it, his
father pulled open the main doors and stepped out followed by a uniformed
officer. Sam’s spine stiffened even as his heart sunk. He met and held his
father’s steady look, shifting his posture to plant himself firmly between the
three men and Scarlett.

 
    
“Samuel.”

 
    
“Pa.”

 
    
Sam’s gaze flicked to the third man, but he
didn’t recognize him. Scarlett slipped out of the saddle and bounded to the
ground, she darted around him before he could stop her and practically flew up
the steps.

 
    
“Colonel Stanley.” She gave the officer an
enthusiastic hug that had the stern faced man reddening with embarrassment.
After she delivered a noisy kiss to his cheek, Jebediah cleared his throat and
Scarlett turned, bussing him with equal affection.

 
    
Dropping the reins, Sam followed her.

 
    
“It’s about time you brought her back,” Jed
wrapped a familiar arm around Scarlett’s shoulders. “We were getting a might
concerned.” The confession was tantamount to yelling in Jebediah's book and Sam
took the fierce warning to heart.

 
    
“Her kin live a way off, took some time to
get there.”

 
    
“I see. Everything worked out then?” Jed
cut a look between the two of them and Scarlett blushed.

 
    
“I believe so, sir. Scarlett’s done me the
honor of agreeing to be my wife.”

 
    
After a round of congratulations, Jed
settled the group in chairs scattered about the porch.

 
    
Miss Annabeth brought out a fresh batch of
cider and sandwiches. Jed sent for men to take care of the horses. Sam perched
on the edge of his seat, chair angled close to Scarlett’s.

 
    
He leaned over, dropping his voice to a
murmur. “How do you know the Colonel?”

 
    
Scarlett grinned, settling a wholly
improper kiss on the corner of his mouth. “He is a great friend to my father.
He’s visits us every spring after the first snow melt and usually stays a few
weeks.”

 
    
Sam nodded slowly, catching her hand in his
and cradling it.

 
    
Waiting.

 
    
“Now, Samuel, about the gold robbery.” The
Judge cleared his throat.

 
    
“Collin…”

 
    
“Jed, you let me say my piece.” The gouty
judge gave Jed a hard look, one of the few men who probably could. “The Colonel
and I have discussed the matter and we’ve both heard you out. But the Colonel
assures me the Army is willing to drop all the charges.”

 
    
“Really?” Scarlett’s voice carried just a
hint of a squeal, as though she too experienced the same shock and delight at
the possibility.

 
    
Jed leaned back in his chair, an approving
smile creasing the lines of his face.

 
    
“Really.” The Colonel nodded. “You didn’t
actually have any gold on you and we’ve only the Marshal’s word that you were
part of some gang. I expect you’re not altogether certain about that now, are
you Marshal?”

 
    
“No, sir.” Sam didn’t blink. “It was a
misunderstanding and poor courting on my part, I expect.”

 
    
A bark of laughter went around the group
and Sam tilted his head to wink at Scarlett.

 
    
“I’d say so,” the judge bobbed his head.
“So to my way of thinking, it’s a done deal.”

 
    
“What about the town? There are folk in
Dorado.”

 
    
“Cob’s taken care of it,” Jed answered.
“Colonel Stanley arrived yesterday with a small contingent of men. They’ve been
put up at the hotel, taken stock of the gold at the bank and passed the word
that the matter is settled.”

 
    
“Just like that,” Sam murmured. It
shouldn’t have surprised him, what his Pa wanted, his Pa got.

 
    
“Just like that.”

 
    
“So when’s the wedding?” The judge, clearly
finished with that discussion, demanded before biting into a sandwich.

 
    
“Springtime.”

 
    
“Soon.”

 
    
Sam and Jed’s answers tripped over each other,
father and son sharing a long look.

 
    
Scarlett laughed.

 
    
“Springtime is best for weddings and it
will give us time to add onto the house, and give our Scarlett a proper home.”

 
    
“We’ll likely be living in town, Pa.”

 
    
“Not all the time you won’t and town’s no
place for little ones.”

 
    
Sam sighed. This was a conversation for
another time. One of many, he feared, that he needed to have with his father,
not the least of which was explaining what Scarlett could do.

 
    
“Mr. Kane, sir,” Scarlett interjected.

 
    
“Jed. Or Pa if you like. Molly always
wanted a daughter and she’d have approved of you.”

 
    
“Mister Jed, sir.”

 
    
Sam applauded her compromise.

 
    
“Yes, Miss Scarlett, ma’am?”

 
    
“Spring time is months away, Sam and I just
want to get married.”

 
    
His father’s gaze hardened as it went from
Scarlett to Sam. Sam refused to look away.

 
    
Scarlett was his wife in every way but the
preacher saying the words, he intended to live as such no matter what his
father set for a wedding date.

 
    
“Uh huh.”

 
    
“Now, Jed. Be kind to the boy. He’s found
himself a pretty little filly and she’s said yes, always best to get it taken
care of before anyone can change their mind. Unless you don’t think you can
plan a wedding in short order.” The judge’s cagey words did the trick.

 
    
The next week passed swiftly, with
construction already beginning on a new wing to the house, a dress ordered for
Scarlett and gazebo framed by the stream, near Molly’s willow.

 
    
Scarlett insisted and to Sam’s amazement,
her request had rendered Jed speechless.

 
    
Trouble rolled up in three wagons the day
before the wedding, but as the gold was exchanged for a pardon, Sam felt
himself begin to relax. He greeted Micah with a solid thump to the jaw and then
shook his hand. He even considered letting his brother dance with his bride.

 
    
Jed was pleased to meet Scarlett’s brothers
and didn’t hesitate to put them all to work on last minute arrangements. Quanto
wasn’t able to come to the wedding, but Scarlett didn’t mind.