And that's why I say, at our age, it's risky trying something new like this.” Stewart tugged at his tie as if his collar was too tight.
Develyn sipped ice water from a crystal goblet. “You presented an excellent case, counselor. But your strongest point is also your weakest.”
“Our age?” he murmured.
“Yes. At our age we're prone to follow logic and reason as if it's a divine command.”
“It pays good dividends,” Stewart boasted.
“I agree,” Develyn continued. “And that, too, is your weakness.”
Lily turned to Cooper. “Your honor, I'm confused.”
“My word, are we spoiling a fine meal arguing over legal technicalities?” Stewart asked.
Cooper wiped his mouth with a green linen napkin. “I believe the counsel for the defense still has the floor.”
“Thank you, your honor,” Develyn said. “I would now like to present my closing arguments. The honorable prosecutor, Mr. Stewart Lawrence, Esquire, has made it clear that the proposition under consideration should be rejected because, first, it is imprudent at our advanced ages to engage in such a risky venture, and second, sticking with logic and reason would be a better financial investment. Is that correct?”
“Sounds quite convincing,” Stewart concurred.
Develyn tapped on the water glass with her spoon. “And it is my contention that at our advanced and decrepit age…”
“I resent that remark,” Lily smirked.
“We have few opportunities to follow our hearts and dispose of that stinking logic and reason. I say that if we do not follow our hearts now, if we let this grand opportunity ride into the western sunset, never to raise its magnificent head again, we will regret it the rest of our lives.”
“No matter how short that might be,” Lily added.
“Yes.” Develyn triumphed. “The mind has an uncanny ability to overcome defeat, but the heart rejected aches forever.”
“Do you think she had too much flambé sauce?” Stewart chided. He glanced around the restaurant at other patrons who were listening to their discussion. “Perhaps we've all had too much flambé sauce,” he whispered into his napkin.
Develyn stood up. “And for my concluding argument…”
“Good heavens, Ms. Worrell, be seated,” Stewart pleaded.
She glanced over at Cooper Tallon. He pointed to her empty chair.
She plopped down. “As to the idea that logic pays the best dividends, Mr. Prosecutor is correct. This can be an expensive change of life. But that's my point. At our age not a one of us needs more dividends. Most of us have life so structured that right now our dividends will outlive us. Is that not true, Mr. Prosecutor?”
“Objection,” Stewart puffed.
“Objection overruled,” Cooper replied. “Answer the question.”
“Yes, I believe my dividends will outlive me.”
“So we do not need dividends. We do not need a boost of financial stability. What we do need is adrenalin. We need something to make our hearts race and our spirits soar. We need a reason to get up in the morning and hurry home after work. We need to know someone is depending on us and longs to see our face. Someone who doesn't care if it's a bad hair day. Someone who doesn't mind if our socks don't match our earrings. Someone who doesn't care if the kid pharmacist always gives us the senior citizen discount. We don't need dividends; we need love fulfilled!”
Soft applause broke out in the restaurant.
“Good grief,” Stewart murmured.
“Dev presents that good of a case?” Lily asked.
“Heavens, no. A second-year law student could shred it, but everyone in this room is staring at us.”
“If you go anywhere with Dev, you get used to that,” Lily said.
Develyn elbowed Cooper Tallon. “Your honor, what is your ruling?”
“The court is recessed while the bench ponders the verdict.”
“I'm not used to judges pondering a verdict,” Stewart said.
“In Wyomin', there's no g on the word ponderin',” Cooper corrected. “In renderin' my verdict, the fact that the prosecutor is from a foreign land will not affect my decision.”
“That's very judicial of you,” Stewart replied.
“When can we expect a verdict, Your Honor?” Develyn asked.
Cooper stabbed his meat. “When I have finished my steak.”
“You only have one more bite,” Develyn prodded. “Hurry up.”
“I will not rush the last bite of steak. It's the most important bite of the evenin'.”
“Why is that, Your Honor?” Lily asked.
“Because, dear lady, it is the last bite of steak I will have until…”
“Tomorrow?” Develyn interjected.
“Yes, until tomorrow. That means the moist, succulent, sweet juices of this medium-rare ribeye must soothe my pallet for many hours, if not days. This one little bite, and the memory thereof, must sustain me through many toils and snares.”
“Coop, eat the last bite of meat,” Develyn snarled.
He jammed the morsel into his mouth.
“Now, we want a verdict, and we want a verdict right now,” she demanded.
Cooper rapped his spoon on the table. “Court is in session. Having carefully reviewed all the evidence in this case …”
“What evidence?” Stewart protested.
“Quiet in the court. I have examined all the evidence, or lack thereof, and come to this conclusion based on Cowboy Rule #14 established in the case of Sissy McClain vs. Josiah ‘Three Fingers’ McClain, August 4, 1872, Ft. Laramie, Wyoming Territory.”
“What is Cowboy Rule #14?” Lily asked.
“Never, ever, stand between a girl and her horse. This court rules in favor of the defendant. Lillian Suzanne Martin retains legal permission to purchase a horse, as long as it's a decent breed and not one of those insane thoroughbreds.”
“Yes!” Develyn jumped to her feet.
Lily danced over to Develyn. “I won!” They slapped high fives, then plopped back down in their chairs.
Stewart Lawrence pulled his linen napkin completely over his head until his face was covered. “I appeal,” he mumbled.
“Appeal denied.”
“I appeal the denied appeal.”
“The appeal of the denied appeal is denied. In fact, everything you say between now and midnight is denied. Court dismissed.”
“Stewart doesn't take defeat well,” Develyn mused.
“He never loses,” Lily shrugged.
“If you three don't mind, I'd prefer to shrivel up and crawl into this hole-in-the-ground by myself.”
“I can hardly wait to get home and start horse shopping,” Lily said.
“What if you get bucked off and break a leg?” Stewart grumbled from under the napkin.
“Then you'll just have to carry Lily in your arms everywhere you go,” Develyn said.
He pulled off the napkin and winked at Lily. “I can live with that.”
“So can I,” Lily beamed.
Cooper's diesel engine growled in harmony with the rain-sprinkled blacktop as they rolled west on Highway 20.
“I didn't quite hear all of that,” Cooper said. “Too many years running heavy equipment without ear protection.”
“I'll scoot over, Mr. Tallon. But that's the most pitiful begging I've ever heard just to get me to sit next to you.”
“What did you say?”
“Hmmm, you are very sneaky for an old bachelor.”
“You've got to be sneaky to survive to be an old bachelor.”
“Well, Stewart's bachelor days are over.”
“I like him. He's a good guy in his own stuffy Indiana way.”
“Are you saying people from Indiana are stuffy?”
“If you, Lily, Delaney, and Stewart are representative of the Hoosier State, well, there must be lots of fine people back there.”
“Every state has its share of saints and jerks.”
“And some states have more than their share,” he laughed. “I reckon Jackson Hill's bachelor days are over too.”
“I can't tell whom I'm happier for, Casey or Lily.”
“This marriage thing is spreading like an epidemic.”
Cooper flipped on the windshield wipers, though there was barely enough rain to warrant it. The approaching headlights turned south. The yellow line on Highway 20 soared at them like a volley of arrows fired in unison with the thwap, thwap, thwap of the windshield wipers.
Develyn tugged at her diamond stud earrings. “The talk of marriage killed the conversation.”
“Sorry, Dev. Can I be honest and just blurt something out?”
“Of course.” Just don't crush me too much, Mr. Tallon.
“I would dearly love to pull this rig over to the side of the road, kiss you, and ask you to marry me. But I can't. There are too many doubts runnin' through my mind and heart.”
“Such as?”
“I don't know which are more important. I have no doubt that I love you. I reckon any fool can see that. But even if for some unexplainable reason you loved me, you have your life in Indiana; and I have my life here or somewhere. I'm not even sure. You've got to take care of your Delaney. You came off a tough deal in your marriage, and I don't have a clue if I even know how to love a woman the way she should be loved. I'm ten years older than you, and that bothers me a lot. Not that we'd be incompatible but that you'd be stuck nursemaidin' an old man. I wish, Dev, it was years ago we had met, when we were young and impetuous and had the future to share and learn together. Anyway, all of this is rather foolish talk for an old man who's not sure of how you feel. Man, I'm glad it's dark in here. This is the most personal conversation I've ever had with a lady.”
Develyn clutched his thick, strong arm. “Coop, if things were different, I'd have you pull over, and I'd kiss you and ask you to marry me.”
“You'd ask me?”
“Honey, this is the twenty-first century. But I'm confused about all those things too. I'm wired to teach school. I have a commitment to the kids of Crawfordsville, Indiana. My twenty-year-old daughter still needs me. I know the present seems so complicated, and the distant past simpler. In the right time at the right place, years ago, lots and lots of years ago…”
“I got to admit one more thing.”
“Do I get to find out more about Cooper Tallon?”
“No, you know all about my workaholic, boring history. But I have to admit that I'd have a nervous breakdown asking you to marry me, so to skip that part is a great relief.”
“You more scared of me saying yes or no?” she teased.
“Either.”
“While we are ponderin' our complex lives, I'll just have to come up with a good answer that will put your mind at ease, providing the time is ever right for you to ask me to marry you.”
“Are you sayin' that when the Lord's timing is right, you aren't exactly opposed to the idea?”
“That's a good way of putting it. In the Lord's timing, I'm not exactly against the idea of getting married.”
Cooper laughed. “That makes me feel better, I think.”
“I suppose it doesn't sound like unbridled enthusiasm.”
He patted her knee. “We understand each other, Dev.”
She squeezed his arm. “Yes, we do, Mr. Tallon.”
He passed a slow-moving semitruck and pulled back into the westbound lane.
“So, Ms. Develyn Gail Upton Worrell, what do you reckon we should do now?”
“I think you should pull the truck over right now.”
“And ask you to marry me?”
“No, I think tonight we ought to just stick to the kissing part.”
Cooper Tallon bounced the truck to the right shoulder of the road, slammed on the brakes, and killed the engine.
Develyn poked her head through the rails of the corral fence. “He looks lonely.”
“Brownie is in there with twelve other horses. How can he be lonely?” her brother insisted.
“I don't care. He misses me. I can see it in his eyes.”
Dewayne grabbed up a rock and slung it out on the sage-covered prairie. “He's going to miss you a whole lot more. Daddy says we're leaving as soon as Mama comes back from Mrs. Tagley's.”
Develyn pulled her head back from the rail and stared toward the cabins. She shaded her eyes from the early morning sun. “I like Argenta, Dewa. Do you?”
“Not as much as Crawfordsville. I can't wait to play baseball. Some day I'm going to play second base for the St. Louis Cardinals.”
“Why don't you root for the Cleveland Indians, like Daddy does?”
“Because they never win, that's why. Come on, let's go.”
“I need to talk to Brownie alone.”
“You'd better hurry. Mama told you to say your good-byes last night.”
“Brownie and I are too good of friends to say good-bye only once.”
Develyn crawled between the rails and brushed her hand off on her khaki shorts. She noticed three orange Popsicle drops on her pink T-shirt. As she approached the remuda, the big brown one shuffled her way.
She rubbed the scar on his ear and walked him to the rail.
“Brownie, I want you to behave yourself this fall and winter. You eat right and get plenty of exercise. Don't stay out in the blizzards and get sick. And sometimes when you dream, dream of me, OK? Because I know I'll dream of you.
“Mother says I talk a lot, and maybe I do. But most times I talk about silly things so I won't have to talk about important things. You're my best friend in the whole world because you let me talk about important things. You are a very good listener. Mother says I'm not a good listener, but that's not true. I hear everything she tells me, even the part that doesn't make any sense.”
She laid her cheek against the gelding's nose.
“Being with you is so peaceful. I like you. I like me when I'm with you. I don't always like me, Brownie. Sometimes, like when I'm around the girls in my class like Gloria or Kathy or Diane, I don't like me at all.
“Now I told you I'm coming back next summer. I'm going to talk Daddy into letting me stay for four weeks instead of two. And we will ride every day. I'll groom you and brush you and tie pretty ribbons in your tail.
“I was kidding about the ribbons. Dewayne says boy horses don't like ribbons. And I know you are a boy horse. Sort of.”
“Devy-girl,” Dewayne hollered, “Mama says hurry up.”
Develyn hugged the horse's nose. “I love you, Brownie.”
Dewayne grabbed her shoulder and shook it.
She clutched the horse tighter. “I love you very, very much.”
“I love you, too, Mom. Now wake up. It's Uncle Dewayne, and he only has a few minutes to talk.”
Develyn sat straight up in the dark, stuffy cabin. In the shadows Delaney shoved her cell phone at her. “You might want to step out on the porch where the reception is better.”
“Dewayne?”
“Your twin brother, remember?”
Develyn shuffled out to the soft westerly breeze on the moonlit, uncovered porch. “Dewa?”
“Hi, Devy-girl. Man, it's good to hear your voice. No one in the world is allowed to call me that but my little sis.”
“I'm only six minutes behind you. Remember that. Where are you?”
“I'm in Kuwait. Where are you?”
“Wyoming. I told you about coming out to Argenta, didn't I?”
“I can't believe you actually found it.”
“Are you OK?”
“What time is it there?”
“I don't know. The middle of the night. And you?”
“It's noon here. Hey, are Mom and David back from Austria?”
“Yes, but they went to Wisconsin to Aunt Harriet's. Uncle Leland had another stroke. Why do you ask?”
“Devy, I had a little accident.”
“You fell?”
“How did you know that?”
“You fell off a cliff?”
“No, our chopper was landing on the aircraft carrier, and it crashed about fifty feet into the deck.”
“Oh, no.”
“Tom Green was killed in the explosion. A couple of others were injured bad. I was lucky.”
“You didn't get hurt?”
“I busted both ankles, that's all.”
“That's all? It sounds horrible.”
“I'm on my way to Germany for surgery. I should be in the states by September. I'll be home by Christmas. I'm getting out, Devy.”
“Out of the Navy?”
“Twenty-five years of this is long enough. Hope I'm doin' the right thing, sis.”
“Dewa, you do what the Lord wants you to do. But your little sis is going to be thrilled to have big brother around.”
“Only six minutes older. Did you really dream about me falling?”
“Yes, several days ago, Dewayne. Twins are close. You know that.”
“My time's up with the satellite phone. Call Mom for me. I might not get back on until after the surgery.”
“I will. I love you, Dewa.”
“I love you, Devy-girl. Kiss the cowboys and be happy. You deserve it.”
Develyn sauntered to the edge of the deck and gazed into the Wyoming night. Uncle Henry waddled over to her.
“Hi, honey. You know what? The Lord blessed me with a great brother and a great dad—and if I will let my pride loose, a great mother too.”
Develyn and Lily loitered in the shadows of the cottonwoods and studied activity taking place next to the cabin.
“It looks like a circus is coming to town. That's a huge awning,” Lily said.
“Coop said the guys at Wyoming Tent and Awning rented that one for the same price as the smaller one. This size uses steel cable to tie it down instead of ropes. We might need it.”
“How many you expecting?”
“No more than a couple dozen, that's for sure.”
“You mean, you invited everyone in town?”
“Just about,” Dev laughed.
“That awning will hold a couple hundred. Shelley Nagle's daughter, Wenonah, set up an awning like that at Turkey Run for her wedding. Over three hundred attended, but not all were under the awning all at once.”
“Wenonah got married? You didn't tell me that. I should have sent a present.”
“We gave them a nice crystal serving bowl.”
“We did?”
Lily took her arm. “I put your name on it, and you owe me $36.75.”
“How nice of Ms. Worrell to remember one of her students.”
“I thought so.” Lily studied the yard. “That's quite a crew Coop has.”
“I'm glad Stewart can help out. Leon's been here since 6:00 a.m.”
“He does know the party is tonight, doesn't he?”
“Yes, he's a little hyped, which, for him, is quite normal.”
“Dee's pitching right in too.”
“She wants to keep busy so she won't worry about the doctor's appointment.”
“What time is Casey taking her over?”
“Right after they feed the road crew.”
“Do you want to take the Lincoln to town?” Lily asked.
“Oh, no, we need the space to bring home the supplies. Are you ready?”
Lily studied the clouds. “Do you have lightning storms every afternoon?”
“Most times there's little rain and plenty of thunder.”
“Is that plane circling around?” Lily asked.
Develyn spotted the silver and blue Cessna. “That's Quint's. Actually, it's Lindsay's plane, but I suppose he didn't want to leave it in Texas. Let's go over to the landing strip and see what he wants.”
“He probably wants Miss Dev.”
Develyn stuck out her tongue at Lily.
Develyn and Lily leaned against the Jeep as Quint Burdett strolled toward them.
“Oh, my,” Lily confided. “I had no idea he was so tall and so handsome.”
“Ruggedly distinguished, don't you think?”
Lily giggled. “I want to have his baby.”
“I can't believe you said that.”
“I didn't. It was a postmenopausal anomaly.”
“Howdy, Miss Dev, and this charming lady has to be Miss Lily.”
When he reached down to hug Lily, he plucked her off her feet. Her arms went around his neck.
“Mr. Burdett, we finally meet,” Lily gasped.
“Call me Quint.” He lowered her down and hugged Develyn. “Hi, darlin'.”
She hugged him back and kissed his clean-shaven cheek. “How was your flight?”
“Fine. Just can't figure out who would want to leave that fake note for the boys. I never leave headquarters unoccupied. Mom and Pop Gleason went to Billings to watch their grandson in a baseball tournament. I knew that, but having the crew take off, that troubles me. I can't wait to get up there.”
“You haven't been home yet?”
“I was just flying over Argenta to get to the ranch and noticed a big white awning or tent over at the cabins.”
“Only one cabin left,” she reported.
“Yes, that's what I heard. Anyway, when I saw the awning, I naturally assumed someone was having a wedding. And, well…”
“You needed to find out if your Miss Dev was getting married behind your back?” Lily asked.
“I suppose that was it.”
“It's a long story. It's just a barbecue I'm having, and Coop thought we needed a place that was out of the rain. I really hope you can come. Cuban, Tiny, and the boys are invited too.”
“Yes, well, if I can figure out what is going on, I will try to make it. I'd better get on up to the ranch.”
“Call me when you find out anything. I'm curious too.”
Quint had just turned to head back to the plane when Develyn spotted a white Ford truck bouncing down the gravel road into Argenta.
“Quint, do you know a man name Hunter Burke?”
“He's the new assistant curator at the firearms museum in Cody.”
“I wasn't sure of his position.”
“I met him last month. He knows his Winchesters.”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“He came out to the ranch last month and took some pictures of my One of One Thousand, Winchester 1873.”
“Why?”
“The museum is trying to locate, take pictures, and identify every one made. Why do you ask about him?”
“He just drove by on the road.”
“Dev thinks he's a crook,” Lily blurted out.
“Why on earth would you think that?”
“It's very subjective. And I'm not as sure now. I'd appreciate it if you'd check on the safety of your One of One Thousand before you phone me.”
“You don't think he'd…”
“Burke's hanging around the cub, and mama bear suspects everyone,” Lily added.
Develyn and Lily got back in the car and bounced over to the gravel road.
“I can't believe you turned Quint down. That might have been the dumbest move since Hugh Grant refused Julia Roberts in the movie Notting Hill.”
“Lily, there is more to life than money, good looks, and a charming personality.”
“Whatever it is, I can live without it,” Lil teased.
“Are you having second thoughts about dear Stewart?”
“No, I'm not. Quint's out of my league but not yours. Julia and Hugh got together at the end of the film. Maybe there is hope for you.”
They returned to Argenta with supplies and were still unloading when the dimpled cowboy with blond hair curling out from under his black hat walked straight up to Lily Martin, hugged her, and kissed her on the lips.
“I say,” Stewart Lawrence muttered as he stepped closer.
“If you aren't Lily Martin, I'm going to be in big trouble.”
“And if you aren't Renny Slater, we'll both be in big trouble.”
Develyn stepped between them. “I see you met my Lily?”
Slater stuck out his hand. “Stewart, no offense, I hope. Miss Lily and I have talked on the phone a number of times. I feel like an old family friend. I expect congratulations are in order.”
“I didn't think…yes, thank you. This is my first view of cowboy hospitality.”
“I take it I'm a little early?” Renny asked. “What can I do to help?”
Develyn grabbed him by the arm. “Go ask Coop. He insisted on hosting everything. It sort of ended up being a going-away party of sorts. Although I don't intend to leave until Sunday afternoon.”
Renny circled his arms around Develyn. “Indiana is lucky. They get Miss Dev for the rest of the year while the rest of us can only hold her in our dreams.”
“Oh, brother, I'll be so glad to get away from this gooey cowboy charm,” Develyn chided.
Renny shrugged and winked at Lily. “She is one tough lady. I knew that the first day I met her when she got back on that paint mare after being bucked off.”
Develyn stepped out of his arms. “As I remember it, I left the arena in tears.”
“Yeah, but you rode out on your own horse.” He sauntered over to where Cooper Tallon tossed wood onto a long, raised barbecue grill.
“I can't believe Renny,” Lily laughed. “He's the real live stereotype, isn't he?”
“He's the real deal, honey. Renny's every little cowgirl's dream, right down to his bow legs and soft heart.”
“How did you find him?”
“Don't you remember? I was sitting on the bench in front of Mrs. Tagley's eating an orange Popsicle. He stopped out in the road, remember? From fifty feet away and with his dark glasses on, I looked twenty-five instead of forty-five. It was a mistake that didn't take him long to figure out.”
“But he stuck around anyway?”
“Lily, if a gal had to go through life with only two or three friends, you'd want one of them to be Renny Slater.”
“No wonder you sounded happy when you phoned me.”
“That's not true. I remember some panicked calls to you. But it has been a good summer.”
Leon ran up to her. “I got to go home and change. I got my shirt dirty.”
“Why don't you wait until right before the barbecue starts and then change? Just in case you get dirty again.”
“Yeah, I'll do that. Did you know that we have ten watermelons?”
“Yes, Lily and I just brought them back from town. They were having a sale on Green River watermelons.”
“If twenty people show up, we all get half a watermelon. I ain't never had half a watermelon.”
“If twenty people come, I'll be shocked.”
“When I get my driver's license, Mr. Tallon said he'd teach me how to drive a dump truck.”
“That will be wonderful.”
“He said he might need a boy to do chores for him next summer. If I come back to Grandma's, he'll give me a job.”
“Gives you something to look forward to, doesn't it?”
“Yep. I ain't never had nothin' to look forward to. I got to go. Coop needs me.”
Leon bolted back to the awning.
“Dev, he doesn't seem like the Dougie Baxter type to me.”
“Lil, that kid changed overnight. This is remarkable.”
“Maybe Dougie will change overnight.”
Develyn looked into Lily's green eyes.
They responded as a duet: “No.”
Develyn was sorting a pile of dirty clothes when the cell phone rang. She stepped over to the window when she answered it.
“Miss Dev, have you seen good ol' Hunter Burke?”
“Quint, what is it?”
“Someone decided to steal my One of One Thousand.”
“Oh, no.”
“Someone who knew where it was. Someone who knew how to get the crew to town so no one would be around. He left the other guns. He just took the one gun.”
“And you suspect Hunter?”
“When I called the museum, they said they fired him two weeks ago.”
“What for?”
“He photocopied a bunch of private documents for his personal use.”
“That's strange. But it doesn't mean he took the Winchester.”
“I know. But he is the last one to look at it, besides family. Maybe he told someone. The sheriff's here now and wants to talk to Burke.”
“I'll keep an eye out.”
“Miss Dev, I might not get down to the barbecue. I'm waitin' on Cuban and the boys. The only chance of retrieving that gun is to catch him quick. It looks like whomever took my gun cut across the pasture on an ATV.”
“A four-wheeler? Quint, do you know where Cooper Tallon's spring meadow is on Cedar Creek?”
“I used to lease that from him.”
“We were up there when Hunter came by and asked permission to store a gas can for his four-wheeler. He claimed to want to scout out the southern Big Horns before hunting season. But besides gas, he left several boxes of bullets. Revolver bullets.”
“You thinking that's a part of his route?”
“I don't know anything, except he really did leave gas and bullets there.”
“On second thought, I might come down that way. Tell Cuban and the boys to wait for me there.”
“Quint, I'm so sorry about this.”
“Me too, Dev. The gun's worth a $125 grand, but it's the sentimental value that gnaws at me. Miss Emily gave it to me on our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.”
“Doesn't Mrs. Tagley have some old guns like that?”
“She used to. I sold them all for her.”
“When was that?”
“Years ago. Her husband bought up old guns during the depression. He ended up with three hundred. He just kept them in a back room at their house. Well, about 1980 Mrs. Tagley wanted to clean out the room and use it for a storeroom. So I took them to a couple of gun shows and sold them—mostly all Winchester 1894 carbines. Quite used, as you can imagine. The only other One of One Thousand in Wyoming is owned by Dr. Bob Simmons in Jackson. He has his on loan this summer to some museum in Japan.”
“What should I do if I see Hunter?”
“Call the sheriff's office and stall him as long as you can.”
“Johnson County or Natrona County? I had that problem once before.”
“It won't matter this time. Place him under citizen's arrest if you have to.”
“I don't think I could do that.”
“Have Cree-Ryder do it. There isn't a man in Wyoming that isn't afraid of her.”
“There's one. And he's going to marry her.”
“Casey married? Ranch hands all over the basin will sleep better knowing that. Now what time's supper?”
“Around six o'clock.”
“Me and the boys will be down your way. Whether we can stop and eat will depend on what happens with this investigation.”
“You didn't tell Quint that Mrs. Tagley had a ‘One of a Thousand' in her safe?” Cooper asked.
“I feel funny mentioning anything in her safe. If she never told anyone, I shouldn't either. Buy why would someone steal Quint's gun? Wouldn't it be almost impossible to resell it? You said it has a serial number, and everyone knows that it belongs to him.”
“I'm sure there is some collector, somewhere, that would jump at the chance to own it, even if procured illegally.”
“But he can't advertise that he has it.”
“No, but if he was on the museum staff, he might have contact with those looking for such a gun.”
“I don't like Hunter, but I can't believe he'd do that.”
They watched Casey and Delaney drive up and park in the shade of the Cottonwood, away from the other vehicles.
“You're right,” Coop said. “Innocent until proven guilty.”
“You talking daughters or gun thieves?”
“Gun thieves,” he replied. “Now go on and visit with her. Just let me know the verdict when you get a chance.
Dev strolled over as Casey got out of the driver's side of Jackson's truck.
“Come talk to your girl, Mama. I'm going to the store to check on my man.”
Oh, Lord, my little Dee. Oh, give us strength, dear Jesus.
Develyn scooted into the truck and rolled the window halfway down. Delaney's shoulders slumped. She twisted several damp, rolled up tissues in her hands.
“Honey, what did you find out?”
“Everything,” she whimpered.
“Tell it all to me, Dee. I want to know.”
“Mom,” Delaney cried. “I'm so sorry, Mom.”
As Develyn hugged her daughter, tears flooded both faces and dripped to their blouses.
“Baby,” Develyn sobbed. “It's OK. Whatever it is, it's OK. We'll get through it together, you and me. You cry all you want, and I'll cry with you.”
Develyn rocked her daughter for several minutes.
“I'm so sorry, Mom… I'm so sorry.”
“Baby, it's OK. Tell me what you are sorry about? What did the doctor tell you?”
“I wish I'd listened to you and we had gone to Maine together.”
“That choice is long gone. The Lord will help us with the choices we have now.”
“I was so stupid,” Delaney sobbed. “I was stupid for not realizing your pain when Daddy cheated on you. I was stupid for blaming you for his heart attack. I was stupid for giving in to a guy that didn't want me all that much. I don't want to be stupid anymore.”
“If you can learn that when you're twenty, you'll be twenty-five years ahead of me. Tell me what the doctor said. What kind of smart decision do we make from here?”
“I'm going to try not to cry, Mom. I'm a grown woman. OK, here goes. She said I was pregnant.”
“You are?”
“That's why I missed my period. And then, when I got back home to Indiana, I had a miscarriage and lost the baby. Oh, God, I hurt all over.”
Develyn held her daughter and wept.
Delaney heaved a breath. “How many miscarriages did you have?”
“After my sweet Dee was born, I had at least four, honey. Four that I carried long enough to know I was pregnant.”
“Did you feel like you wanted to die when you found out?”
“Every time, baby. Every time.”
“I really hoped I was not pregnant. I know I sinned, and I know the Lord can forgive me.”
“He has forgiven you.”
“But if I was pregnant, I was prepared to accept the consequences. So in some way I was prepared for either option but not this. If I hadn't sinned, the baby wouldn't have died.”
“Honey, we can't play God. But I do know how you feel.”
“How did you survive your miscarriages, Mom?”
“Time, and prayer…and friends…and David.”
“Grandma's David?”
“No, the Lord's David, in the Bible. When the first baby was born to David and Bathsheba, it lived only a short time. After the baby died, David went on with life. He told people that someday, he could go and be with the baby, but the baby could never come and be with him. He needed to let go of his grief and take God's next step for him.”
“Mom, the doctor said that due to the scar tissue and all, I could miscarry other babies.”
Develyn hugged Delaney and sobbed. “It's OK, honey. It's OK. The Lord will take care of you.”
“But you're crying, Mom.”
“We can cry because we hurt, but that doesn't mean we aren't trusting the Lord at the same time.”
“What am I going to do now?”
“You're going to go out and live your life, Dee. Accept God's forgiveness, and let him heal your hurts.”
“You think I should go back to Purdue?”
“Whatever you decide, I will support you. It's your life, Dee. You make the decisions.”
“You mean that?”
“Yes, I do.”
“What would you do if you were me?”
“I wanted to be a teacher since I was ten years old. I have never wanted anything else. So, of course, if I were you, I'd finish college and teach. But you aren't me. That's the point.”
“Are you going to tell anyone?”
“I would like to tell Lily and Coop. I take it Casey knows.”
“Yeah, she cried with me all the way home.”
“Would it be alright if I told Coop and Lily?”
“Yes. How about Grandma?”
“No, I will not tell Mother. You may tell her if and when you think it's the right time.”
“I don't think I will.”
“That's fine.”
“I don't feel like a party.”
“Why don't you go take a nap in the cabin? We have a couple of hours before everyone shows up. If you feel like it, come out and join us. If not, sleep in.”
“What will you tell them?”
“That you aren't feeling well.”
“Mother, I invited Hunter to the party. Was that OK?”
“That's OK, honey.”
“I don't want to see him now.”
“I'll talk to him.”
“Mom, I've got something to confess.”
“What, Dee?”
“Hunter came by last night, and I visited with him. I was afraid you'd get mad if I told you. Casey and Jackson had to run to Casper for some supplies for the state highway workers' lunches, so they dropped me off here. Hunt was waiting for me.”
“I'm surprised Ms. Cree-Ryder left you here without a chaperone.”
“She didn't know he was here. He parked his truck behind Mrs. Tagley's and walked over here.”
“Why did he do that?”
“He said he liked to camp back in those trees.”
“Camp?”
“I think that just means sleep in his truck. We sat behind the cabin on that old log and talked for several hours.”
“You just talked?”
“Yes, Mom, I'm not a slut.”
“I know you aren't, baby. I'm sorry if it sounded that way. What do you know about him?”
“He's angry and bitter. Did you know the museum fired him? That's why he was sleeping in his truck.”
“I just heard that today.”
“He found some of the inventory of old guns missing, and when he took those facts to his superiors, they fired him. He claims they are trying to cover up someone stealing some of the deluxe firearms.”
“If he was treated wrong, he should take his case to the authorities or to the newspapers.”
“They threatened him if he did. He said they would accuse him of the theft and get him arrested.”
“He told you all of this?”
“Yes. He seemed to be rambling on and on. He wanted to go to Paris, maybe the Riviera. He said I should go with him.”
“He got fired, has to live in his truck, but he wants you to go with him to Paris?”
“I think he was just angry and rambling on and on.”
“What did you tell him?”
“I told him I wasn't going with him anywhere, but he could come see me again when he was not angry and bitter.”
“That's good thinking.”
“He kissed me, Mom.”
“Oh?”
“He acted like I was easy. He did try to touch me, but I told him that's where I kept one of my knives. That's when he left.”
“You said that?”
“Yeah, Casey taught me.”
“Casey taught you how to say things that scare men away?”
“No, how to carry a knife where no one knows you have it.”