Reclaiming Nick (32 page)

She had pleaded that God would help her find justice. Even a measure of peace. Seeing Nick surrender his life for Cole had made her believe that people could change. Be healed from their pasts, their hurts. Made her believe she could be healed. At least it made her realize she wanted to be healed.

Piper continued to stare out at the sagebrush, the rocky hills, the sky that stretched to eternity. Perhaps she had found what she was after at the Silver Buckle without even knowing it. Maybe, in fact, it was a God thing.

“He heals all your diseases . . . and crowns you with love and compassion.” What might it feel like to let go of the anger, the bitterness? to fall at Jesus’ hem and beg for healing? to be shown compassion and granted peace?

Heal me, Lord. Please make me whole. Give me peace.

“You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”

Piper looked at Jimmy.

He smirked as he put his hand back on the wheel. “It seemed that the way you were hovering over him the last few days, you’d given out too much of yourself on this assignment. Let him in under your skin.”

Was Nick under her skin? Yes. And in her pores and her mind and her heart. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”

She leaned back into the seat, closing her eyes. As the truck droned, eating the miles, she fell into a dreamless sleep.

CHAPTER 21

“Y
OU CLEAN UP WELL,
Mr. St. John.” Maggy came up behind Cole, putting her hands on his shoulders, and beamed at him through the mirror.

Cole raised an eyebrow. At best, he looked like he’d spent the winter in Siberia—he was pale and gaunt; his hair was thinning. The suit and coat only gave the illusion of being robust and capable. Inside, he felt as if he might be waking from a long hibernation. And if having a defective liver hadn’t nearly killed him, lying around the house all summer as CJ, Maggy, and their new hired man had worked the ranch nearly had. By next spring he’d be strong and healthy and riding Suds again. Working whatever land they still had after today’s meeting in court.

He could hardly believe the grace the hospital had given them—writing off half their expenses and allowing them to pay the rest over time. However, even if they received Bishop’s land, it would take them two lifetimes to pay it off—his and Maggy’s as they worked together.

Cole touched his hands to hers. “You’re the eye candy here, Mrs. St. John.”

Maggy nearly glowed. The summer sun had touched her skin with a magical kiss and streaked her hair in tones of copper. He’d always loved her green cardigan, black skirt, and boots, but it was the anticipation in her eyes that set Maggy apart today. A new chapter in their lives, starting this afternoon in Sheridan.

“Are you nervous?” He turned, wrapped his arms around her waist.

Maggy cupped his face in her work-worn hands. They smelled faintly of lotion and a fresh coat of nail polish. “A little.” She ducked her head.

He caught her chin, raised it to look in her eyes. “It’ll be okay. I promise. I’ll be there. And Nick . . . well, after all he’s done, he deserves this day.”

“I’m not worried about CJ—well, a little, I guess. But not as much as Bishop’s will. Nick could do it, Cole—he could have it set aside. And then—”

“Shh, Mags. We’ll trust God. He’s taken us this far. I think we can trust Him for the rest.” He leaned his forehead against hers.

Maggy forced a small smile.

Leaning down, Cole kissed her ever so gently. She closed her eyes, and he felt her relax, lean into his embrace.

Maggy. How could he have ever wished for her to return to Nick? He tightened his arms around her, deepening his kiss, feeling something awaken inside him. Something new and alive.

A fresh start.

He leaned back, feeling a curl of warmth that he’d ignored for far too long. “Mags, I’m sorry for ever doubting your love for me.”

He saw in her eyes what his words meant. How they dug deep and found tender soil. “It’s oka—”

“No, hear me out. I’ve always felt like a thief. Like I stole you from Nick. Like I stole CJ from Nick.”

He watched her frown and put his finger over her lips. “I couldn’t help it. You were such a gift to me—I felt shame all the time because I knew Nick wouldn’t ever know that. And those feelings of shame turned into hatred for him. It made me angry at Nick, made me even despise him.”

“But you forgave him. You said you did.”

“I did forgive him. But I never got over the shame, the feeling that I got away with something I didn’t deserve—like the thief hanging on the cross next to Jesus getting heaven. Until the surgery. Nick might have given me a part of himself out of guilt, but I saw it as a gift of grace. I didn’t deserve that gift, but neither did I deserve you or CJ, and God gave me both of you.”

He heard his voice begin to crack and swallowed the emotions in his throat, continuing. “More than that, He gave me a father and a heritage, even if I never have the land.” He took her hands. “I’m so ashamed that I ever asked you to marry Nick, honey. I know it felt like I was scorning the love you’ve given me since the day we were married. Lying there in that hospital bed and every day after, I realized that not believing in your love would be like me ripping out the organ Nick gave me and handing it back to him. I’ll never be able to earn your love or Nick’s gift. But if I could, it wouldn’t be a gift. It wouldn’t be an act of love. My only choice is to accept the grace.”

He ran his hands down her arms, caught her hands. “Nick’s sacrifice deserves my respect. Your love deserves my respect, and
I promise to be the best husband and father I can be.” He added new warmth to his gaze. “I know I’ve also held back from you what you really wanted. A family.”

Her eyes glistened.

“Lord willing, we’ll have another child, Maggy.” He brushed his fingers through her soft hair. “A girl with a love of horses.”

She smiled despite her tears.

“I hate the fact that Nick doesn’t know CJ is his son. He’s such an incredible kid. I look at him and long for Nick to know he’s a part of that.” Cole wiped one of her tears with a thumb. “Things will change when Nick finds out. But we have to trust that God will continue the work He started in our lives, through the good times and the bad, whatever may come.” His gaze traced her face, landed on her mouth. “And today, my Maggy, will be one of those very, very good times.”

He kissed her again, this time molding her body to his.

For the first time in what seemed like years, she wrapped her arms around him and really kissed him back, reminding him of everything he’d missed. Everything he still had.

Everything his brother had given him.

The judge peered down at Nick. Thick necked and white haired, he had the voice of a man who brooked no argument. Sorta reminded Nick of his father, and as if sucked back in time, he felt sixteen and about to be dressed down.

Nick felt the silence and the smell of polished wood in the tiny paneled room settle upon him; a sweat broke out across the back of his neck. Last time he’d been in a courtroom, he’d been testifying
against Jimmy McPhee. And now, like then, he’d been wrong. He managed a tight nod.

Why hadn’t he withdrawn his petition to keep Cole from inheriting Noble land? Well, when he filed it, he’d been a different person, an angry person. A prodigal looking for redemption.

Who knew that he’d find a sort of redemption in giving away a huge chunk of himself? That by sacrificing and letting go of his birthright, he might earn what he’d always hoped for: his fathers’ smiles—Bishop’s . . . and his heavenly Father’s. The past three months—and recuperation time on the sofa—had given him ample time to read Bishop’s Bible. To follow the scribbled notes in the margins, to learn exactly how his father had worked out his faith.

He’d learned what it meant to be a Noble. And while he certainly couldn’t claim to be the finished product, he at least felt as if he’d finally figured out what it meant to walk the path carved out for him.

He’d taken the first step today. He placed his hands on the oak table and pushed to his feet. “Your Honor, could I—?”

“Sit down, son. We’ll get to arguments in a moment.”

“But I—”

“Sit.”

Nick pursed his lips, cast a glance at Maggy. She had her arms crossed over her chest, her face solemn. But her posture had lost that defiant, angry edge. In fact, the few times she’d been to the Silver Buckle, delivering casseroles or bringing CJ to visit, she’d been . . . kind. It made him see her as he should have—a woman of strength and humor. He admired how she encouraged CJ as he went on to win two more roping events at local rodeos. And the
day she unloaded Pecos and ushered him back into the corral, Nick hadn’t been able to speak.

Seeing her, however, had only made him miss Piper more. Miss her laughter, her listening ear. Miss her smile. By the time he’d returned to the ranch, she’d cleaned out her gear and vanished. Leaving him with only fragments of pain.

Cole looked at him.

Nick gave him a wry smile, which Cole returned.

“I’ve reviewed the materials with respect to the petition regarding the bequest of Bishop A. Noble. Frankly, this case is a mess. I see the primary personal representative is currently in custody, indicted for attempted murder?”

Nick nodded, quelling the flash of anger Lovell’s name ignited. “But I—”

“Quiet, Mr. Noble.” The judge shuffled the papers before him. “And the secondary personal representative is Dutch Johnson?”

“That’s me, Your Honor.” Dutch’s voice came from right behind Nick.

“Okay, Mr. Noble, I’m ready to hear your submissions.”

Nick found his feet. Cleared his throat. Smiled at the judge. “I’m withdrawing my petition.”

The judge gave him a look that made Nick feel about three feet tall. “Why didn’t you do so before now? This is a waste of the court’s time and resources.”

“Because he had surgery, Your Honor,” Cole said from his side of the room.

“Quiet.” The judge sent Cole a dark look before turning back to Nick. “Do you have a stipulation?

“Uh . . . a stipulation?”

“The document that sets out the terms on which you have settled the matter?”

“Settled? We haven’t settled anything, have we?” Nick glanced at Maggy, at Cole. Well, maybe they had.

“Do you have a stipulation?” the judge repeated.

“No . . . I just made a mistake,” Nick said. Too many mistakes.

The judge gave a long sigh. “If you don’t have a stipulation, I will have to hear the matter. Proceed with your submission.”

Nick stared at the judge. “I’m sorry, Your Honor. I’m not prepared to make any submissions. I want to withdraw. The bequest should be distributed as Bishop wanted.”

Maggy stood up. “That’s not entirely true, Your Honor. Bishop wanted the land to stay in the Noble family.”

“Order! You’ll get your chance, young lady.”

Maggy sat down.

The judge turned back to Nick. “Continue.”

“I have no other submissions, Your Honor.” Nick shook his head.

The judge turned to Maggy and Cole. “Now you may speak.”

Maggy stood up and smiled. “Okay, good. We’d like you to set aside the will.”

“Maggy!” Nick said.

“Maggy?” Cole repeated.

“Order!” The judge banged his gavel. He turned to Maggy. “What?”

Maggy crossed her arms. “On the basis that I was present when the will was signed. And it’s the right thing to do.” She turned to Cole. “I don’t want you to get this land because I was quiet. That’s lying and wrong.” Then she looked at Nick. “But Cole is a Noble
too . . . and I was thinking that . . . well, instead of splitting the land, we’d—”

“—combine it.” Nick said the words softly, reading her expression, the idea growing like a fire in his chest. “Combine it.” He looked at Cole. “Double the size of the Silver Buckle. Your land, mine, and Bishop’s land . . . with all of us Nobles working the ranch.”

“I’ll have some order here!”

A smile creeped up Cole’s face. “You have to promise to actually do some work, Nick.”

Nick grinned. “This coming from a guy who used to sneak out on Sundays to watch a certain redhead train her horses?”

Maggy blushed, looking at Cole.

He shrugged. “Nick thought it was his idea.”

“Listen!” the judge growled. “Order, all of you. If you interrupt again, I’ll have you removed from the courtroom.” He shook his head, rolling his eyes. “There is a reason people hire attorneys to represent them.” He looked at Nick, then at Cole. “Are you sure you’re sitting on the right sides of the room?”

Nick smiled at Cole.

Clearly, they were making the judge crazy. Now the judge zeroed in on Maggy. “Are you listed as a beneficiary to the land in the will, Mrs. St. John?”

“No. But Bishop gave me a horse.” She flicked a glance at Nick. “Sorta.”

“Then why aren’t you a beneficiary?”

“He gave me the horse before he died, but he wrote it into the will.”

“Did he actually give you the horse, or were you just using the horse?”

She glanced at Nick, and he saw her redden. “He gave it to me. I never rode it.”

“But if he gave it before he drafted the will, then you had no reason to exert undue influence on him.” The judge put down the paper. “Is there any other basis on which the will should be set aside?”

Maggy shook her head.

“Mr. Noble, do you have anything to add?”

Nick glanced at Cole, his brother. The son who had earned the Noble name. “No, Your Honor.”

The judge nodded. “Okay. I’m going to deny Mr. Noble’s petition. The will stands. Your personal representative will assure the assets are divided and . . . recombined if you so wish.”