Tame a Wild Bride, a Western Romance (21 page)

Ben smiled up at him.
 
“Pretty good.
 
But I don’t need
her
help for a bath.
 
I can do it myself.”

Rosie wanted to insist but instinct told her Ben needed this small thing to prove to himself he was okay.
 
That and the fact that Tom shook his head when she’d looked up at him.

“Okay.
 
How about I make some hot cocoa to go with those cookies?”

“I guess that would be okay,” mumbled Ben and then he marched up the stairs, with Suzie following, chattering at him like she always did.

Rosie looked at Tom.
 
“What did I do?
 
He’s so angry at me.”

“I think right now he’s thinking that his mother and I would be together if not for you, which in a way is true.”

“What?” asked Rosie, crestfallen.
 
After all they’d shared he still wanted Sarah.

“It’s not what you’re thinking.
 
I don’t want Sarah.”
 
He came over to her and squatted in front of her.
 
“I want you.”

“Then what do you mean?”

He took her hand.
 
“Things would have been different if I’d known Sarah was alive.
 
I wouldn’t have advertised for a wife, I wouldn’t have met you much less married you…or anyone because I would still have been married to her.

Dan spoke for the first time since Ben had started telling them his story.

“We got the money back but I don’t think Sarah was in this by herself.
 
She had to have someone in town help her and I think I know who.”

“Well?
 
Who was it?” asked Rosie.

“Sam Kent.”

“What?
 
No way.
 
Sam was nothing but helpful,” protested Tom.

Dan leaned forward, rested his elbow on his knee and lowered his voice, assuring that his voice didn’t carry beyond the room.
 
“First, I recognize the horse she was riding as one of Sam’s.
 
We weren’t supposed to ever see the horse, so I’m sure they thought it didn’t matter.
 
Second, it’s too early for the mine payroll to come in.
 
It’s not due until next week.
 
I keep track of when it’s due in case something goes wrong.
 
So Sam ordered cash in for another reason.
 
I bet if we went to Sam’s house we’d find Sarah’s city clothes.”

“But why?
 
Why would he help Sarah?”

“That I don’t know.
 
Maybe she was sleeping with him.
 
Whatever the reason we better figure it out before he finds out Sarah’s dead.”

Rosie listened to the men and then said, “Why did they target us?
 
Sure, money was the main reason but I think getting even was another.
 
Sarah was supposed to be dead but the idea that Tom remarried must have goaded her and then, when it turned out I was rich, well Sam told her and one thing led to another.
 
Which means he knew Sarah wasn’t dead.”

“Dan, you’ll have to get into Sam’s house.
 
You have enough reasons to do it.
 
Perhaps we need to go into the bank and redeposit the money so Sam knows the plan failed.
 
I think he might try to run,” said Duncan.

Dan rose from his seat at the kitchen table.
 
“I’m going to have to take Sarah’s body in, so she can be buried.
 
If we don’t catch Sam at something besides failing to report a stolen horse, he’s going to get away with it.”

“That can’t happen.
 
We have to do something.
 
There has to be a way,” said Tom.

“What if we left him a note under the door of his house, telling him to meet at the shack if he wants his share?
 
That’s all we’d have to say.
 
If, as we suspect, he was a part of this then he’ll already know what shack to meet at,” said Rosie.

“That’s a good idea.
 
We still have his horse.
 
We can tie it up outside the shack so he’ll think Sarah is still there,” said Duncan.

“And when he goes inside to get his share of the ransom, you and I’ll be there to greet him,” said Tom.

“You don’t think he’ll wonder why or how Sarah could come all the way back to town to leave the note?” asked Rosie.

“I don’t think he’s that smart.
 
Nothing about this seems very well planned.
 
They saw an opportunity and took advantage of it.
 
What I can’t figure out is how Sam knew Sarah was alive,” said Duncan.

“I want to ask Sam that question myself,” said Tom.

Dan slapped Tom on the back.
 
“We’ll get answers.
 
I promise.”

Tom nodded.

“I’ll write the note.”

She wrote:

Change of plans.
 
Meet me at the shack for your share.
 
Tomorrow night at eight.

She let the men read it.
 
“That should do it don’t you think?”

“I think so,” they agreed.

“Now who do we get to take it?
 
If any of us show up in town and Sam see’s us, he’ll know his cover is blown and get wise that the ransom didn’t work,” said Dan.
 
“He’ll run and we’ll never catch him.”

“Who’s the newest of your ranch hands?” asked Rosie.

“That would be Bart.
 
He’s only been with me for a few months.”

“Then Bart it is.
 
He’s not likely to be recognized and associated with this ranch if he gets seen,” said Rosie.

Tom took the note to the bunk house and gave it and the instructions to Bart.
 
If he left in the morning he’d get there while Sam was at work.
 
Sam wouldn’t find it until he got home from work and would still have enough time to get to the shack before dark for the meeting.

Tom and Dan left after breakfast for the shack, just in case Sam got the note sooner than expected and decided to ride up there early.
 
Tom rode Sam’s horse.
 
As planned, they tied Sam’s horse out front.
 
Dan tied his mount deep in the woods so there was no way to see it from the old cabin.
 
And then they waited.

“Have you told her yet?” asked Dan.

“Told who, what?”

“Don’t be dense.
 
Have you told Rosie?”

“What am I supposed to tell her?”

“That you love her.”

“What makes you say that?”

“A man doesn’t spend the money for the bridal suite at Mary’s unless it’s for the woman he loves.
 
Besides that, I’ve seen the way you look at her and the way she looks at you.”

Tom squirmed in his chair.
 
“How does she look at me?”

“With her heart in her eyes.
 
You know your marriage to Rosie isn’t valid, right?”

“Not valid?
 
I hadn’t thought about it.
 
We’ll just get married again.
 
Not a big deal.”

“I think you’ll find it’s a very big deal to Rosie.
 
She’s seen the caring side of you.
 
She’d going to want, rightly so I might add, love on your part.
 
She’s earned it.”

“Well I….”

“Rosie’s a mighty fine looking woman.
 
There are lots of men here, myself included, that would give anything to have Rosie for a wife.”

Tom ran his hand through his hair.
 
“What if I don’t love her?”

“Then you should let her go.
 
Let her find happiness with someone who does love her.
 
She deserves that.
 
She’s worth it.”

Tom shook his head.
 
“I can’t.
 
I can’t let her go.
 
The children love her.”

“That’s bullshit.
 
They don’t know if they love her or not.
 
Right now Ben only feels resentment toward Rosie.
 
Regardless of how badly his mother treated him, he still loves her and thinks Rosie was in the way of Sarah coming home.”

“Sarah’s dead.
 
For real this time.
 
Ben knows that.”

“It doesn’t change his feelings.”

“I’ll convince Rosie to stay.
 
Ben will come around.”

“Yes, but will you?
 
Rosie deserves a real marriage.
 
You made it clear to everyone in town that you didn’t want this marriage to be anything but a marriage of convenience.”

“Things have changed.”

“Then you better make sure she knows that or you’re going to lose her.”

“I know…I.
 
Did you hear that?”

Dan peeked through the hole in the wall.
 
“It’s Sam.
 
Just as we thought.
 
We’ll grab him when he comes in.”

Tom watched from his side of the door through a break in the mortar.
 
Sam got off his horse and came toward the cabin.

“Carolyn?
 
Sis?” he called out.

“Well, that explains it doesn’t it?” whispered Tom.

Dan nodded.

They stood on either side of the door.
 
As soon as it opened, Dan grabbed Sam by the arm, twisted it behind him, spun him around and slammed him up against the wall.

“What’s the meaning of this?” protested Sam.

“You’re under arrest for kidnapping.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.
 
I haven’t kidnapped anyone.”

“But your sister did and you are an accessory to it.
 
You helped her.” said Tom.
 
“I thought it was strange they’d ask for the exact amount Rosie deposited in your bank.
 
You’re going to be spending a long time in jail.”

“Total coincidence, I assure you.”

“Right.
 
And you showing up here after receiving a note from your sister is coincidence as well.”

“Yes, I was out for a ride and…and.”

“Stop while you’re ahead, Sam, and shut your mouth before I shut it for you,” growled Tom.

 
“You can’t prove anything.
 
It’s your word against mine.”

“There are two of us and one is the sheriff, now you tell me who the judge and jury are going to believe.”

Sam clamped his mouth shut.

The three of them went outside.
 
Dan cuffed Sam’s wrists together.
 
They helped Sam onto Sarah’s old nag and Tom got on the spirited stallion that Sam had ridden there.
 
Dan handed the reins for Sam’s horse to Tom and then went to fetch his own mount.

They walked the horses all the way back to the ranch in the dark.