Copyright © March 2019
Published by Patricia PacJac Carroll
ALL rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, (except for inclusion in reviews), disseminated or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, or audio. Including photocopying, recording, or in any information storage and retrieval system, or the Internet/World Wide Web without written permission from the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
Book Cover: Charlene Raddon at SilverSageBookCovers.com
Rand Ketcham Series ~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Table of Contents
October 1871
Penelope cringed and braced for one of her father’s long-winded sermons on mercy. He was always giving her one after his stern looks.
Father cocked his head and gave her a hopeful smile. “Try not to judge everyone so harshly, Daughter.” He pecked her cheek. “Ease up on your siblings and try and have a good day. You know that God is love and—”
“Daniel, leave Penelope alone. Things will work out.” Mother gathered the basket of food and went out the door.
Father sighed. “I just want you to be happy, Penelope. You won’t be until you can see others through eyes filled with God’s love.” He rushed to follow Mother out the door.
Penelope watched them get in the wagon and then turned back to her chores. “Well, someone has to be good. I would think the Lord would see that I’m the one who always does right.” She folded a towel. As usual, her three sisters and two brothers were off hiding from work while Mother and Father were on their way to console the widow Fryer.
At twenty-three, Penelope should be minding her own household, but no man in his right mind would be interested in her with her five siblings. They were too loud and disorderly for any man to take her seriously.
She frowned, knowing that wasn’t entirely true. For some reason that she couldn’t understand, people just didn’t like her.
Women her age and men alike skirted a wide path around her. Sometimes not even attempting to hide their actions, but Penelope didn’t care. She was a preacher’s daughter, and she was determined to live up to the commands of the Good Book.
She toted the clothes basket outside, paused, and dug around for more clothespins. She had to admit that despite her high ideals, there were days the rejection stung.
“What is it about me that people don’t like?” A tear slipped down her cheek. “Why, Lord? I do everything right according to the Bible. Yet, I have no friends and certainly no young man who wants to marry me.”
She heard footsteps and quickly dried her eyes.
Angela, her oldest sister, sauntered through the yard. “Penelope, we’re going to the caves. Want to go?”
Penelope, as the oldest and most responsible child of Preacher Daniel and Priscilla Wyler, wouldn’t dream of putting off her chores. Why her siblings could, was a mystery to her. Penelope put her hands on her hips. Something she was frequently doing because of all the impure things people, mainly her siblings, were doing around her.
“Angela, you know that is improper. There better not be any boys going with you.”
“Oh, for pity’s sake. It’s Saturday. Mother’s with Father and won’t be home until long after we’re back and have the chores done. As for boys, the brothers are going. I can’t say that any other young men might show up or not.” Angela stuck her tongue out.
“A bird is going to land on your nasty tongue. At twenty-one, you should be ashamed. That’s not how ladies act. The brothers should be working, and you better not be meeting any men.” Penelope shook her head. Angela was right about their parents being gone and at the same time so wrong in shirking her duties.
Penelope couldn’t understand why her younger brothers and sisters didn’t see the error of their ways. It was such a burden to be the good one of the family. But as a preacher’s daughter, it was her duty. By her example, her brothers and sisters would come around and become pillars of society, like she was.
Penelope finished the washing and went inside to bake a pie for the Ingram’s. They’d had their first baby, and the new mother, Ellie, needed some help. Pausing with flour on her hands, Penelope recalled that she and Ellie were the same age. Not that they were still really friends as Penelope never had time for the frivolity of visiting. But when they were younger, there had been a few days when they had sat under the apple tree and talked.
They’d talked about life and what they’d thought it would be like. Ellie had laughed and smiled. Told her that she had her eye on Billy Ray. Well, he was her husband now, so she must have corralled him.
Fixing the crust in the pan, Penelope tried to push away the sour mood that threatened. She had never gone to the town dance with a single boy. She used her parents’ church as an excuse even though they never told her she couldn’t go. In fact, Angela had been to many such dances as well as her younger brothers and sisters.
“Well, I have a reputation to uphold.” She encouraged herself while smashing the dough around the pan. “I have to be the good one. Always me. Why Mama and Papa don’t make the other children walk the straight and narrow, I have no idea.”
She put the pie in the oven just as Sage, the youngest, dashed past her. Penelope grabbed for her. “Whoa. Where do you think you’re going, young lady?”
The fifteen-year-old skidded to a stop. “The cave with the others.”
“No, you’re not. You’re too young.”
A big pout and narrowed brows warned of an angry outburst. “You’re not my mother.”
“No, but I’m in charge of you. Besides, I need you to help me take a pie to Ellie. You can see her new baby.”
“I don’t care. I want to go to the cave.” She grinned, and pink crept into her cheeks. “Henry is going.”
Penelope leveled a stern gaze at her youngest and wildest sibling. “He’s too old for you. And I’ve heard some not very nice things about him.”
Hauling in a deep breath, Sage put her hands on her hips and stared her down. “Gossiping, I see.”
Now it was Penelope’s turn to breathe deep and level a warning look at her sister. “I do not gossip. I was concerned because I know you like him, and he’s a friend of our brothers. Suffice it to say, stay away from him.”
“Ha! You’ll have to catch me.” And Sage rushed out the door at a dead run.
Penelope had long ago given up running. So childish. Well, mother and father would have to deal with Sage. Cleaning up the kitchen, Penelope was burdened to pray for her siblings.
“Father, I ask you to watch out and protect my brothers and sisters. Especially Sage. She’s a wild one. And let Mother and Father know how to deal with their children. Thank you that I’m not like them and obey my parents in the Lord like the Bible says to do. Amen.”
Taking in another deep breath, Penelope put thoughts of her siblings aside and went about doing the rest of her chores as well as some that belonged to Angela and Mary. They were more than old enough to know better but had skipped out anyway.
Penelope folded the rest of the towels and smiled. “At least, Mother and Father have one good child they can count on.” She checked the pie, and went outside to see that the chickens had been fed.
As usual, Sage had forgotten her duty. Penelope scattered the chicken feed and brought in the eggs. She glanced at the woodpile but decided she didn’t have the time to take care of the brothers’ chores. They would have to bear Father’s disappointment. She only had time to do so much.
She pulled the pie out. Perfect. Ellie and her husband would enjoy it. A niggling worry scratched the back of her mind. Most of the girls her age were married or about to be. She wasn’t even close.
Penelope had yet to find a young man that she would even consider marrying. Of course, the reverse was also true as of yet, no young man had called on her for her hand in marriage. She sighed. There was Dale Hawkins. He’d smiled at her once, and he was handsome. He worked on his father’s ranch and seemed too busy to be interested in getting a wife.
Yet, at the General Store, she’d heard Martha Bailey say he was going to the dance Saturday night. So, the young man must have some interest. Penelope took some hope in that she was every bit as pretty as Martha. The dance might be worth going to.
“Who has time for such nonsense, anyway?” Penelope spoke to the apple pie. Besides, she was inclined to believe it was more proper to wait until the Lord brought her a young man to marry. She just hoped that He’d hurry up.
She pulled off her apron, covered the pie with a clean towel, and was about to dart out of the house when she passed by the mirror. Flour dotted her nose, and her red hair was escaping the tight bun she’d wrapped it in.
She set down the pie and wiped the flour from her nose. Thank goodness she’d checked. Her hair was a lost cause. Once it started its flyaway act, there was no hope in taming it. She grabbed the pie and walked to the street.
Ellie lived less than a mile away. Her husband worked at the bank. He would have been a good prize, but Ellie’s beauty had hooked him. Just as well, Mother needed Penelope’s help with the children and chores.
Not to mention, Penelope kept her mother abreast of all the developments in town. Not in a gossipy fashion but with the idea of how to pray for others. It was important for a preacher to know how to pray for those in his congregation and town.
Duston wasn’t much of a town, but it was the one where her father had chosen to plant his church. She’d been here for ten years and had grown accustomed to it. Although, at times she wondered if they had stayed in St. Louis, she may have found a suitable mate by now.
She turned up Second Street to the cute, yellow house. It certainly was what a young woman would dream about. White picket fence around the yard. White trim accented the yellow paint on the house. And all new.
Father had not done too well as far as their parish home. It was adequate, but small for their family. Father said not to complain. So, she didn’t. Although, she heard the other siblings announce their displeasure. But Penelope wasn’t like them.
She knocked on the door.
In a few minutes, Ellie, looking a bit harried, opened the door. “Penelope, come in.”
“I’ve brought you an apple pie to celebrate the birth of your baby.”
“How sweet.” Ellie gently took it from her and sniffed. “Smells wonderful.”
Penelope noticed her friend still had a few extra pounds left over from having the child. Her friend would have to watch that as Ellie’s mother was more than plump. Penelope smoothed her skirt delighting in her trim figure.
“The baby is sleeping. Please, don’t look at the mess. Charlie keeps us up at all hours of the night.” Ellie took the pie to the kitchen.
Penelope moved a baby blanket and sat in the rocker. She looked around the small room and noticed dust as well as items strewn about. Well, she’d heard of other new mothers who let their houses go.
Ellie returned and sat on the divan. “I am so tired. Poor Billy Ray, he has to get up early to go to work, but we’re managing.” She nervously pulled a knitted baby booty from the cushion. “I was looking for that.”
Penelope nodded while thinking that if Ellie would put things away, she’d be able to find them.
The soft mews of a baby spilled out into the parlor.
Ellie got up. “He’s awake. Would you like to see him?”
“Yes.” Penelope didn’t really. She’d had enough with babies after Sage had been born. At eight, Penelope had become mother’s little helper.
Ellie returned with a sweet baby in a blue blanket. “Mrs. Whitson made this blanket for me. Isn’t it beautiful?”
Penelope nodded. Though she’d have to wonder about Grace Whitson. The woman lived in a cabin next to that bounty hunter, Rand Ketcham. How any decent woman could live that close to a man who hunted people for a living was beyond reason. Oh, yes, he’d said he’d retired and now, just helped people. He did spend most of his time tending his rose garden. Yet, propriety was important, and Grace should not live next door to her bounty hunter son-in-law.
Ellie placed the infant in Penelope’s arms.
Baby Charlie looked up at her, smiled, and gooed for all he was worth, and then he wrapped his tiny hand around her little finger.
Penelope looked into his sweet face, and something inside her opened. A feeling so surprising that it nearly brought tears to her eyes. She forgot about duty and work and stared into the tender eyes of the newborn and for a moment lost herself.
She didn’t know how long she stayed lost in the sweetness, but when she looked up, Ellie had fallen asleep. Looking back down, Penelope kissed the baby’s cheek. She held the infant close and dreamed that he was her baby. That this was her house. That—
The door opened, and Billy Ray entered. He saw her and frowned. Then went to his wife and nudged her arm. “Ellie.”
The young mother awoke and jumped up. “Sorry, I hope I haven’t been sleeping long.”
“No, not at all.” Penelope returned the baby to Ellie. “I enjoyed holding him. Such a sweet baby.”
Ellie smiled. “Thank you. I guess I better get the rest of supper ready. I didn’t realize it was so late.”
Billy Ray hung his hat on the peg. “It’s not that late. Mr. Wilson let me off early so I could get some sleep.”
Penelope felt awkward and went to the door. “Enjoy the pie.” She looked, and the young couple were kissing.
Cheeks red, Ellie slowly pulled away from her husband as if parting with him were painful. Slowly, she walked to Penelope and opened the door, “Come again.”
“I just might.” Penelope left the yellow house with a bittersweet mixture of feelings. Holding baby Charlie had awakened emotions that she’d never felt before while seeing Ellie and Billy Ray together had only heightened the hard realization of what Penelope lacked.
Why couldn’t she find a man who would love her?
Hayden Burkett pocketed the money he’d earned from the Duston ranch. Not much, but it was honest work. He looked west, thought about packing up and leaving, but he’d not seen his family in half-a-year. Like it or not, he owed them a visit. Then he could cut ties and leave.
He’d tried to persuade Pa to stop his wayward ways before, but the old man was determined to make the bank, carpetbaggers, and anyone he thought responsible pay for the hard times in Texas and town of Duston, specifically.
Hayden reined his buckskin up the road to the hills near Duston. As much as he wished he could forget where the hideout was, he knew exactly how to get there. Cross the fork in the road, go left and up the trail to the hills. Ride past the big rock, then down and over a small creek. The cave was on the other side of the creek partially hidden by a stand of thick brush.
He stopped at the creek. “Pa!”
“Hayden is that you?” His father stepped out of the cave. “Come on over but be quiet about it. There are some folks down the creek exploring the caves. I got Cole watching them.”
Hayden led his horse into the cave and to the back where it opened into a hidden valley. He unsaddled the buckskin and turned him loose. “You earned a rest, boy.”
Greg, who stood guard over the cave, nodded at him. “Long time since you’ve been around, brother. Why did you come back?”
“I wonder that myself.” He wasn’t particularly fond of his brother. Although, he had a soft spot for Cole, the youngest Burkett. At twenty-one, he was old enough to make up his own mind, and Hayden kind of hoped the kid would go west with him.
Pa came up to him. “Heard you were working the Duston ranch. Was hoping you’d bring us a few extra calves.”
“You know I don’t go for rustling. Or any of the rotten things you do. I only came by to say that I’m leaving. I wondered if Cole would like to go with me.” Hayden shucked off his chaps and gloves and warmed his hands over the fire.
“I won’t let him go. You know that. Shouldn’t let you come and go either. You’re a risk to the family. Besides, your boss profited off all the ranchers that lost their land, and he was able to pick up property for a song.”
Hayden whirled to face his father. “Duston is a good, hard-working man. He paid legally for the land. As far as family, if that’s what you call it, the Burketts are more like a misguided bunch of fools on the way to Perdition if you ask me. How long is it before you hurt someone? Kill someone?”
The old man turned from him. “I’m only getting back what was stolen from me and other good citizens. You know we help those around us.”
Kneeling over the fire, Hayden warmed his hands. “It’s all wrong. You know that. Ma would have never gone along with your schemes.”
“Well, she never got a chance to say, did she?”
Hayden shook his head. “No, I guess she didn’t. But she was good and kind.”
“And look where that got her? Boy, you got to take what you want from this world. Take it and not look back because others will be trying to take it from you. So, no, you can’t take Cole with you. Besides, most of the citizens like us. We give as much as we take.”
“Cole’s old enough to say for himself. He’s not like you and Greg. He’s more like Ma.”
His father grabbed his shirt and brought him within inches of his scraggly, bearded face. “He’s nothing like her. He’s my son just like you’re my son. Remember that, Hayden. If you had any guts, you’d stay with us and even the score. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re a coward.”
Hayden bristled, but he held back the anger that wanted to lash out at his father. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” He yanked out of his father’s grasp and threw his bedroll on the ground near the fire. “I’m tired. Leave me alone.”
The old man kicked his foot. “For now. Soon enough, we’re going to come to a reckoning, me and you.”
Hayden didn’t answer but shoved his hat down over his eyes wishing he could blot out his father as easily. He’d been a fool to come back. He should have gone west, and he would as soon as he rested his horse a few days.
***
Penelope left the happy home and couldn’t bear the thought of walking to her own. She should be married by now or at least engaged. Dale had looked at her once and smiled. He was a good candidate. Hard worker. He and his father showed up at church at least once a month. She understood the hard rigors of ranch work and didn’t fault them for missing, at least not too much.
She gazed at the general store and saw the Hawkins’ wagon out front. Today was the day they came to town for supplies. Penelope glanced at the window before entering the store to see that she looked presentable.
Penelope smiled. She was pretty. Had a good figure, her hair was a striking red, and her green eyes sparkled. Any man should be happy with her. By contrast with Martha’s looks and there was no comparison. The store owner’s daughter wore glasses, still had pimples, and was already plump. If Dale had eyes, he’d see that she was prettier than Martha.
With her hand on the door, Penelope did admit that the one thing Martha had was friends. Everyone liked her. Penelope prayed Dale would be inside, and then she pulled open door. She walked under the tinkling bell and scanned the store for him. She couldn’t miss his tall frame towering over the bin of potatoes.
Dale was a handsome man. Dark hair. Smart and hard working. He’d make a good match. It was time she got on with a life of her own. Her parents would just have to learn to get along without her.
Penelope went to the potato bin and picked up a spud. “These look nice.”
Dale had been looking toward the window, he turned and smiled. “Yes, they do.”
She held the potato so tight she hoped she wouldn’t squeeze it out of her hand. Penelope was so anxious when talking to others. Especially men. “I was wondering, I make a wonderful potato soup. Would you like to come over for dinner?”
“Me and Pa had plans.” He looked at her and grinned. “I’ll ask him, though.”
“Please do.” She gently set the potato down, and then realized she needed potatoes to make the soup. She took a bag and put in ten of the nicest potatoes, and then looked at the carrots.
With a last smile toward Dale, Penelope went to the counter and paid for her produce. She should engage in more small talk, but she had to get home to make supper. Besides, she’d just never been good at the idle talk of conversations.
Her sisters could talk the ear off a cornstalk. Angela and Mary were friendly and cute and already had a stream of young men coming around for them. Penelope sighed. She’d never had a man come around for her.
Tonight, she’d watch her sisters and see what they did. She could learn. And she’d listen to the conversations. Penelope was not going to be left the old maid sister. No sir. She’d already seen the anxious looks between her parents concerning her.
One thing she didn’t want was the new preacher in Chico. He was as knobby-kneed as a new-born colt and just as clumsy. She’d overheard Mother and Father discussing a possible match for her. Penelope was a preacher’s daughter, and that was enough. She didn’t want to be a preacher’s wife.
Dale held more promise of the kind of man she wanted. She’d never told anyone, but she’d dreamed of a tall man with dark hair. He would be strong and brave and protect and provide for her. Penelope looked around to make sure no one was watching her. She was almost embarrassed to even dream about the man she wanted.
At the door, she stopped and turned. “I’ll expect you at six for dinner.”
Dale looked up. “If my pa agrees, we’ll be there.”
Outside, Penelope huffed. A man who had to ask his father was not exactly what she had in mind for her future husband. Then she laughed. Well, he was better than the man father and mother were considering.
She couldn’t even remember his name other than the preacher in Chico. But she’d met him once. He was tall, and his hair was carrot red. His eyes green and piercing. And he was one of the most awkward men she’d ever met. Not that she was the most graceful woman in Duston or even on her street, but Penelope was like a swan compared to his mud duck ways.
Yes, it was right that she was striking out and purposing to catch the man of her dreams. The man she chose and not the one her parents got for her. She imagined Preacher Chico to be like a stray dog wandering the streets. That her parent thought he would be a good match for her didn’t say much about her prospects.
Feeling proud of herself, Penelope ran into the house to start the soup. She was a wonder in the kitchen. At least, that’s what Father often said as she sat down to eat. With a wink at her, he would say, “Wonder what this is.”
Normally Penelope laughed, but it was beginning to get annoying. How would she get a man worth his salt with Father’s jokes at her expense? She ran up the walk to her home and rushed to the kitchen. She’d just put the potatoes on to boil when her parents walked in the front door.
“Penelope, we have a guest for dinner.”
Thinking they must have brought the widow home for a meal made Penelope a little irritated. Here she’d just went out to ask Dale over for dinner and now they’d have the widow with them. The poor woman was beside herself with grief and close to the same age as Penelope. What Penelope didn’t need was more competition. So much for a fun, lighthearted meal with a prospective husband.
“Yes, Mother. I’m in the kitchen making potato soup.”
Her mother walked in and began examining the dinner. “I think you need a little more salt. Potatoes absorb so much.”
“Yes, Mother.” Penelope tried to keep her eyes from rolling but failed as she saw the kitchen ceiling turn to the floor. She needed to show her mother respect, but at times it was difficult. Penelope sipped the water and agreed, the salt she put in wasn’t enough. Someday she’d learn.
Mother put on her apron. “We have a chicken the widow gave us. She’s such a delight. So strong even with her husband’s passing less than a year ago. I think she’s ready to move on and perhaps find a new husband.”
“Mother! She shouldn’t remarry so early. I thought she was grieving.”
“Oh, she’ll grieve for some time, probably for the rest of her life, but life goes on, and she’s ready. She’s only a few years older than you.”
That put chills down Penelope’s back. But Mother was right. Penelope hoped the widow Fryer stayed away from Dale. Perhaps she’d like Preacher Chico.
Mother shooed her from the stove. “I’ll take care of the meal, go to the parlor and help your father with our guest.”
The way Mother said guest, gave Penelope pause. Something was going on, and it concerned her. “I asked Dale and his father over for dinner. I hope you don’t mind?”
Mother frowned. “Oh, dear. That does present a problem. No worry, it will work out. Go on, and I’ll make dinner.”
Penelope wished she had Mother’s faith. Things would work out was always Mother’s attitude when presented with a problem no matter how big or small. Well, this time Penelope wasn’t so sure. Not that she resented having the widow come for dinner, but that she was looking for a husband and only a few years older than Penelope put her plans to catch Dale in jeopardy.
After taking off her apron, Penelope dutifully went to the parlor. Her father was sitting in his chair, and to his side in her mother’s chair was not the widow Fryer, but Mr. Preacher Chico, flaming red hair and all.
“Daughter, you remember Carl Weatherby. He’s the preacher in Chico.”
With a slight curtsy, Penelope nodded. “Yes, I do. Welcome, Preacher Weatherby.” Offhandedly, she wondered if lying about remembering his name was a big sin but figured it was nothing to the one she was thinking. She wanted more than anything to tell him to leave or better yet seek out the widow Fryer.
Carl escorted her to the divan and proceeded to sit beside her. “Such a delight to meet you again. I’ve thought of you often.”
Plastering a lying smile to her face, Penelope could only pray that Dale and his father would skip her invitation.
A knock on the door told Penelope two things. One, she and God were not on the same friendship level as her mother and the Creator. Two, there was no way she was going to believe this was going to work out. Not for her anyway.
Her father opened the door and welcomed Dale and his father into the house. They shook hands with Carl, and all seemed to be happy to see one another.
Penelope only wished to escape.
Dale looked around the house. “Where is the rest of your family?”
Father looked at Penelope. “Do you know where your brothers and sisters are?”
She very much wanted to say in the caves where you told them not to go, but she didn’t. “They went out. I guess they will be back shortly.”
Dale smiled. Not really at her, but at what she said. Penelope was beginning to get a picture in her mind that she didn’t like. Not at all. Another strike against her mother’s things-will-work-out saying.
Carl took up his place next to her. “Things have been going very well in Chico. I had ten families in church last Sunday.”
Penelope tried to relax and look pleased. “Wonderful.”
Father fixed a gaze on her that let her know she better keep herself under control.
Just then what sounded like a herd of wild mustangs on the steps to the porch signaled her siblings return. Penelope sighed. The widow had given a chicken, but they’d need a flock to feed all these people. And frankly, she didn’t have the faith that God would multiply it even for Mother.
Her sisters entered first. Mary and Sage skipped on past without stopping. Angela, however, stopped in front of Dale. And smiled. Not her happy to see you smile, but a smile she’d seen her sister use whenever she was around young men in town.
Penelope felt her breathing increase and her blood grow hot. This was not right. How dare her sister, who could entice any boy, set her eyes on the man Penelope had asked over. It was not right. Another thing that wasn’t going to work out.
Angela curtsied. “What a pleasant surprise. Are you staying for dinner?”
Dale nodded in that clumsy way men have of doing when in the presence of a woman they are interested in. Something she, Penelope Wyler, had never seen. She glanced at Carl, well, looking at his face and intense green eyes, perhaps he had that look for her.
But she’d not recognize it, No. She was not going to Chico to be a preacher’s wife. No. No. No.
Dinner turned out to be the fiasco Penelope had believed. Mother, however, went on and enjoyed the company as if the working-out-thing had happened. She was blind. Had to be. Angela sat next to Dale and took all his attention.
Carl sat next to her and went on and on about his ideas on how to better the town of Chico.
And then there were the conspiratorial glances between her parents. They were hoping she’d fall crazily in love with Carl. Penelope wanted to shout at them to stop. To yell at her mother that things were not going to work out. She wanted Dale. Angela could have Carl.
To make things worse, her brothers laughed and pointed at her and Carl. Even to the point of making the new preacher blush.
Well, it couldn’t get any worse.
Dinner was over, and Dale escorted Angela outside. They looked a lot like the way she’d seen Ellie and Billy Ray stare at each other. In fact, as Penelope peeked out the slit between the curtains, she saw them kiss. Penelope gasped. She wanted to point it out but didn’t want to embarrass her parents in front of Carl.
Then Carl asked her to go outside and sit on the porch.
Penelope stared at him as if he’d grown an extra head. What was he thinking? Surely, he didn’t expect her to allow him to court her.
“It’s a lovely night, Penelope. Go ahead.” Mother rounded up the remaining siblings and ushered them into the kitchen. “Daniel, I need you too.”
Her father gave Penelope a warning look and followed Mother.
Carl gently held her hand to help her up. “It is a lovely night. I may well incorporate it into my sermon Sunday.”
She glared at him, didn’t mean to, but the idea that she could be included in his sermons was more than she could endure. She leveled a serious gaze at him. “I do hope that our evening tonight won’t be a sermon lesson.”
Startled, he shook his head. “I meant nothing untoward by it. Just that it is a lovely night, and I had such a good time with your family. With you.”
“Yes. Shall we walk?”
“I had it more in mind to sit on the bench under the big oak.” He apparently had it more than in his mind because he kept hold of her hand and led her to the oak and gestured for her to sit on the bench.
Penelope wondered what had happened to Dale and Angela. Then Carl was beside her. Close to her. Closer than she was comfortable with. She bolted out of her seat. “I want to walk.”
Looking a bit perplexed, he stood. “All right. Where shall we walk?”
“Around. Just a small walk. It’s good for the digestion.” And she took off. Apparently not the leisure kind of walk he was expecting as he lagged behind her.
They were just to the other side of the house when Penelope saw Dale and Angela. Kissing. Abruptly, she turned and ran into Carl. “We need to go back to the bench.”
In the gleam of the moon, she saw his eyes. Those green cat-like eyes and she knew he was going to try and kiss her like Dale was kissing Angela. Funny thing, Penelope might not have minded a kiss from Dale, but from Carl, it was beyond what she would endure.
He pulled her to him and just before he planted his lips on hers, she turned her head and he pegged her ear. That was enough for her. She slapped him. “How dare you presume to kiss me. And you a preacher.”
Without another word, she left him standing alone under the big oak. Penelope ran in the house and to her room, the one she shared with Angela. No, things were not working out. Not at all.
The door cracked open and soft footsteps assured Penelope that once again, her want had been denied as Angela turned up the lantern and whispered. “You awake?”
Penelope groaned and didn’t care if Angela heard her or not. “Of course. Especially since you turned up the light.”
“Sorry, but I had to talk to you. It’s important.”
Penelope wanted to slap her sister as she gently sat at the side of her bed.
Penelope sat up and glared at her. “What is it?”
“Dale and I are to be married. Soon. Oh, Penelope, we love each other so much.”
Her anger softened at the glow on her sister’s face. “I didn’t even know you knew him.”
“We’ve been meeting secretly for months. At the cave. He sneaks away from work, and we have lunch together.”
“Do Mother and Father know?”
“About our wedding plans, yes. Dale came inside and asked them for my hand in marriage tonight.” She held her hands to her chest. “I love him so.”
“I asked him over for dinner.” Penelope didn’t go on. She couldn’t. What would be the point? Dale loved Angela, and that left Penelope with no one save Carl.
Angela hugged a pillow to her chest. “Dale said he knew it was a sign when you asked him for dinner. He knew it was the right time to ask for my hand.” She sighed and then looked at Penelope. “I saw you with Carl. Do you care for him at all?”
“No. He is Mother and Father’s idea.”
Angela nodded and looked relieved. “I thought so. He’s definitely not right for you. Frankly. I’m glad you’re not interested in him. He’s too, proper.”
“Ha! He tried to kiss me. I turned, and he got my ear instead.”
Angela put her hands to her mouth and giggled. “Served him right. And he being a preacher.”
Penelope nodded. “Although, I think Mother and Father may have given him the wrong idea about me. I think they mean to match me with him.” She frowned. “Truth is, there is not a man around who is interested in me.”
Angela pulled a strand of hair from Penelope’s face. “You are a little, well, righteous. I think you scare men away. Women too. I know Mary and Sage and the brothers are intimidated by you.”
Penelope groaned inwardly. Her sister’s words were the truth. “I don’t know how to be friendly. I do take God’s Word serious, and I’m not sorry for that.”
Angela nodded. “But at times, you are just as wrong as the people you are pointing at.”
Penelope gasped. “That is not true.”
“Yes, it is.” Angela stood and hugged her arms to her chest. “I am so happy.”
Not ready to let Angela stop their conversation, Penelope stood and confronted her. “I am only doing my Christian duty in pointing out the error in another’s way. They need to walk the narrow path.”
Angela lowered her head. “So, I guess you think the worst of me for kissing Dale?”
Penelope wanted to say yes. To rail at her for lowering her standards like a loose woman. But the truth was, Penelope wouldn’t have minded if Dale had kissed her. “Not really. And you are going to be married.”
“You don’t mind since you’re the oldest, and I’m younger.”
Penelope had to admit it did char her a bit. “No. But I am afraid I might become the old maid of our family.”
“I’ll pray for you, Penelope.” She searched her eyes. “Do you mind if I give you a bit of advice?”
Penelope shook her head no, while inside she was screaming, yes. “I can use some.”
“Don’t be so good. As I said, you intimidate people. Try and be more, normal.”
Ha, Penelope had always thought she was the normal one. “I’m not sure I know how.”
Angela took her hands. “It’s good to live by the Good Book. But don’t lord it over others.”
Taking her hands from Angela, Penelope whirled away from her. “So, I’m too good?”
“Well, sort of.”
Penelope saw the honesty in Angela’s face. Like it or not, her sister was on to something. After all, she had friends and a soon to be husband. Penelope had neither. “Thank you, Angela. You’ve given me something to think about. I am happy for you and Dale.”
Angela shook her head. “No, you’re not. That was the right thing to say, but I can see it in your eyes and heart that you are not happy we’re going to be married. You wanted Dale for yourself. I can’t blame you. He’s a handsome, hardworking man. Any woman would be happy to get him. I hope in time, you’ll truly be happy for us.”
Penelope could only stare at her sister. How had she become such a wise woman? “I am happy for you. At least, I intend to be happy for you and Dale.”
Angela hugged her. “Be yourself Penelope, but let others be who they are, too.”
If Penelope could figure out how to do that she would. Confusion whirled in her mind. Be good? She knew that from her father’s sermons. She lived it. Well, tried to. She held herself to a high standard and thought others should be held to that same standard.
Angela turned the light down and climbed in her bed.
Penelope stared out the window at the moonlight streaming from the night sky. She gazed at the moon and felt a kinship. She knew how it felt to always be in the light of others and never shining herself.
So, she was too good. That’s what Angela had said. That’s why she had no friends. No interested men. Well, she would have to pray on how to be bad. Others figured it out. She didn’t believe a tiny lie here and there or to forget to do the chores once in a while would cure her of her lonely affliction.
“Lord, show me how to be normal and whatever steps it might take. Amen.”
***
Hayden slept through the night and late into the morning. He hadn’t thought he was that tired, but not wanting to be around his gang of a family was more than likely the real reason. He had nothing to say to them. Pa was always angry and muttering how the bank owed him, the sheriff had been wrong to force them off the land and growling at the town leaders for allowing it to happen.
Pa’s poison had infected Greg the most. Maybe because he was the oldest. Still, that had been years ago. If his pa and brothers had worked, they could have started another ranch. Already, he had more than two hundred saved and in the bank in Duston. That is if his family didn’t rob it.
Hayden sat up, looked around and wondered what his family was up to. Cole came in the cave and sat across from him.
“You going to stay with us?”
Shaking his head, Hayden stood. “No. I was hoping you’d come with me. Thought we could go west. Start a ranch in Arizona or California.”
Cole frowned. “I like Texas. Don’t have any reason to leave.”
“Not yet. But if you break the law, the Rangers will be after you.”
With a wry grin, Cole shook his head. “We don’t do much. A few stray steers here and there. And we give most of it away to those in need. Most of the people like us.”
Hayden felt hopeless talking to his family. If Cole wouldn’t listen, none of them would. “It’s not a good life. Ma had better plans than that for you and the rest of us. Pa’s eaten up with revenge. Get away before you become like him.”
Cole picked up a stick and marked the dirt. “Pa says we’ll hit the bank soon. When we get enough money, we’ll ride north. Maybe Montana. And start over.”
“And every Texas Ranger around will be after you.”
Cole shrugged. “I don’t see that I have a choice. Family is family.”
“Ma wouldn’t want you to go against the law. Her father was a sheriff.”
“And pa said her father died without a cent to his name. No, I’ll stick with Pa and Greg.”
A shadow crossed the room, and Pa walked in. “Bout time you got up. I let you sleep in cause you been gone, but if you stay here, you’ll get up with the rest of us.”
Hayden faced his father. “And do what? Why does it matter what time we get up? You have chores to do?”
“I’ll not have you talking high and mighty to me. You think you’re better than us just because you worked for a man. We used to have our own ranch. That’s real work.”
Angry most at his father, Hayden glared at him. “Then why don’t you start another one?”
“We plan to. Heard Cole telling you how we’ll set up in Montana maybe Wyoming.”
“After you rob the bank?”
“Maybe.” Pa moved away from him and pointed at Cole. “Fix us some breakfast, boy.”
Cole obediently went to get the pans.
“Where’d you get the eggs? Steal them too?”
Cole stopped. “No, we got chickens. Built them a pen, so the hawks and varmints don’t eat them.”
Pa spat on the ground. “You think our grub ain’t good enough for you?”
Hayden stared outside to the wide-open sky. “It isn’t that. I just know Ma wouldn’t have wanted you to live this way. Taking from others. She was always giving. She’d not be happy with you at all.”
“And we do give to those in need. By the way, angel boy, how have you done working your life away for another man.”
Hayden shook his head. “Mr. Duston is a hard man but fair. He knows he bought out our ranch for the taxes. Yeah, I work for him. But he pays me. Treats me good.”
“You’re nothing more than a hireling. Got nothing to your name.”
“Like you do?”
Pa grabbed him by the collar. “Best you remember who you’re speaking to. I expect you to respect me when you’re here.”
“Respect? For a gang of outlaws.”
His pa’s fist came hard and fast. Hayden hadn’t expected his father to hit him. But the blood coming from his lip told him he should have.
“Don’t test me, boy. I’m your father, and you’ll do what I say, or leave. I hardly recognize you as part of the family.”
“I remember when you were a good man, Pa.”
His Pa’s face turned red with anger. “Well, that man is dead. Killed for taxes and the death of your ma. A man can only take so much.” Regret shone in his eyes. “It’s the way it has to be. Sorry if you don’t like it. If you want to leave, it’s all right by me.”
“In a few days. My horse is tired. The roundup and drive were hard on him.”
Pa gave him a weak smile. “Sorry for hitting you.” He took his handkerchief out and dabbed at the blood on his lip. “Stay as long as you like. Just don’t get in my way.”
And it was at that moment that Hayden knew he’d stay. He could feel it in his soul. His pa and brothers needed him. Needed him to help them back on the straight way. The narrow path his mother fought so hard to keep them on. She’d been a God-fearing woman and had been intent on seeing her family meet her in heaven.
He could feel her encouraging him to stay and help his brothers and pa. It was his duty.
Hayden helped them round up the cattle they had in the secret meadow. The land wasn’t large enough for a big herd, but it was holding the ten head that his bothers had found. Lost mavericks, his father had said. Most of them were, but two had brands. One belonged to Duston.
“Pa, I’ll help out, but we need to get rid of these two with the brands.” Hayden pointed at the two steers.
His father wiped sweat from his brow. Even in October, it could get warm in Texas. “Well, I was having a hankering for ribs.” He rode to Greg and spoke to him.
Hayden watched as Greg roped the steer with the Duston brand and dragged it near the cave. He whirled to face Pa. “That’s not what I meant. Just take it out of the cave and down a few miles. That’s all we have to do.”
A shot rang out.
Knowing it was too late, Hayden let it drop. He rode to the edge of the meadow and looked for any other entrances to their little valley. Tired in his soul, he looked up and prayed. “God, I know you want me to stay and help my family. But please keep me from becoming a rustler or worse. I don’t know what to do.”
He waited, listened, but heard nothing. He found a little spring and stopped to let his horse drink. Looking at the water, he dug around it and made a pool. If the spring held out, they could have a nice watering hole for the livestock. There were maybe twenty acres in the valley. It could be the start to a ranch.
He toyed with the idea of riding into town to put money on the land. It was odd that this little valley had never been claimed. His pa had found the cave and then the valley after running from the law.
When they’d lost the Burkett ranch, Pa had burned the old house, and the law and the new owners hadn’t been too happy. It wasn’t long, and the carpetbaggers who bought their ranch moved out. Found Texas a little too rough for their liking. Made-up Indian raids by his brothers might have had a little to do with it.
Then Duston bought the land. He now had the biggest ranch in the area. But he wasn’t a greedy man. Fair but tough. He’d fought Indians, outlaws, and other ranchers to carve out his part of the world. And there was no doubt he’d defend it to the death.
That was the way out here. Hard, tough men who didn’t take nothing off anyone. But the land was changing. As the Indian problem disappeared, settlers crept west taking the land to farm and raise crops and settle towns.
Hayden glanced at his father. He was going to have to change. Hayden hoped he could help his family learn a better way of life.
“Hayden, get over here and help Greg with the butchering.”
Shaking his head, Hayden rode to his brother and hoped they wouldn’t get caught rustling.
***
Penelope helped with lunch.
Her mother took the bread out of the oven and glanced at her. “What do you think of Preacher Weatherly? He’s a very good and promising man of God. Your father met him at the gathering in Dallas in May.”
“Mother, I am not in the least bit interested in that man.”
Mother frowned. “Well, you’re not getting any younger, and your sister Angela is getting married in March. Isn’t that exciting?”
Penelope scooped out butter from the urn and tried not to see her mother’s worried look. “Yes, I’m excited for Angela.”
Mother hugged her. “What about you?”
“I’ll take care of my own life. I don’t like Carl. Not for my husband.”
“Well, all right. But there aren’t a lot of men in Duston who are good, husband material.”
Father entered the kitchen. “Now, Priscilla, let Penelope alone. She’ll find someone she likes.”
The silence in the air was deafening.
Penelope’s mind was set. She would discover how to be likeably bad. If that’s what it took to find a man and not end up with Preacher Carl, that’s what she’d do.
After the noon meal, Penelope went to the creek near town. She needed to think. Mother and father were of no help. They’d just as soon sell her off to Carl as have her remain an old maid. One thing Penelope knew, she’d be miserable with that man.
He had no spark in him.
She walked the creek and picked up a stone. The smell of beef cooking lingered over the hillside. She glanced up. There were caves all up and down the area. Her siblings loved to explore them. She’d been to them when she was a child.
Once, they’d brought home ancient Indian pottery and a find of arrowheads. The Indians were long gone. Run out by the Texas Rangers mostly. Every now and then a group of renegades raided the area, but they’d lost their land. She thought it sad that all that was left were relics to number their passing.
She sat on a log and looked across the landscape. Such wild land. Yet, there was something about it that warmed her heart. Whoever said Texas worked its way into your heart was right.
But she couldn’t marry a state. And Carl wasn’t the answer.
Angela had said to work on being normal and not so good. What had she meant? Not like she could go out and rob a bank. Penelope sat on a log and stared at the water trickling over worn rocks. The answer would turn up. She was sure of it. She might not believe in her mother’s things-will-always-work-out idea, but Penelope did believe she would come up with an idea. Her answer would more than likely be in town and not out here in the wilderness.
Determined to not be her goody self, she walked into town. Almost went home to do her chores, but she decided today she wasn’t going to do them. Let her brothers and sisters do them for a change.
She passed the church and her home and walked down to the little town of Duston. She glanced at the general store, the livery, and blacksmith. Feed store. Dress shop. Carol’s diner. She hadn’t brought any money but was hungry for a piece of a pie that she’d not had to make.
Penelope stopped at the top of the hill and watched the people of Duston. Donna, a young woman her age, walked toward the General Store. She walked with a swaying motion that made her skirt move. Several men stopped what they were doing and watched her.
Well, she could do that, too. Penelope swayed the best she could without losing her balance down the road to town and into the diner. She sat by the window and gathered her courage to see if any young men were looking her way. With a frown, she saw Donna walking up the hill and the men watching her.
Carol came to her. “What can I get you?”
“A piece of apple pie.”
“Coming right up.” Carol glanced back at her.
Penelope remembered the last time she’d been in and complained about how the chicken was dry. Carol had taken offense, but she shouldn’t have. She needed to know she was selling over-cooked chicken. Still, by the woman’s sour look today, Carol remembered the criticism more than Penelope’s attempt to help her.
Penelope turned her attention to the window and saw the Burkett boys ride up to the store. She hadn’t seen them for some time. Hard luck story their family was. Mother died. Lost the ranch. And now they scrounged around. No one knew where they lived. But by the looks of them, they either didn’t know how to or bother to wash their clothes.
Still, most of the people in Duston and the surrounding ranches liked them. Loved them in fact. All because they confiscated goods from carpetbaggers. Yes, the Burkett’s took from proper legal thieves and distributed the goods to those in need. The sheriff made a half-hearted attempt to catch them in the act, but somehow always failed to.
She’d never liked Greg. Cole the younger one was all right. There had been another one, Hayden. But she didn’t see him. Just the two.
Before she finished her pie, she saw the two Burketts run out of the store and ride away at a fast gallop.
Donna had entered the diner and sat by the window at another table. “They sure are good looking boys.” Donna wore a dreamy look on her face. “All they need is a good woman to set them straight.”
Penelope looked at her. “The way they were running, more than likely they just stole something from the store. I thought they only took from the newcomers who took advantage of those who suffered from the war.”
Donna waved her hand. “The store owner wouldn’t give them credit when their mother was sick. I heard they’d run up quite a bill. Doesn’t matter. They’re nice looking men and would make a good husband for someone. As I said, they just need a good woman to show them how to behave.” Then Donna looked at her. “On the other hand, someone as good as you would smother them. You’re too good for them.”
Penelope wanted to get angry at the mouthy girl. But she was right. Just like Angela had said. She was too good and drove people away. She glanced out the window in time to see the store owner run out and wave his fist at the Burkett brother’s dust.
Donna stood. “Those boys are headed for trouble. All they know how to do is cause mischief.” She sighed. “They are fun though. I love to listen to them tell stories about their exploits. I wouldn’t mind marrying one of them. I think either one would make a good catch.”
“An outlaw?”
“Oh, they’re really not that bad. They have reason to be angry the way the bank and carpetbaggers stole their ranch. They’re just trying to get even and helping out others along the way.” She stood. “Well, I better get back to the dress shop. Ellie needs a dress let out. You know babies do that to a woman.”
“Yes, I know.” Penelope stopped anymore talk about Ellie. She really had been a friend at one time, and Penelope had enjoyed visiting and holding her little baby.
She watched Donna run across the street and unlock the door to her shop and considered their conversation about the Burketts. Like Angela had said, people admired the gang even though they stole and caused trouble.
Donna usually ignored her when she came into her store. Just because she happened to stop her and Mrs. Doggerell from gossiping about Mrs. Fitzwater one day and proceeded to tell them how wrong they were. That was no cause for Donna to not invite her to the lady’s tea she had in her shop.
The rejection still stung. Even Angela had said that her being so good made others to not like her. Yet, those hoodlums were the talk of the town and admired by many. What was with people that they would like those who dabbled in sin and dislike her? It wasn’t right. Not right at all.
Still, she was alone without a prospect for a man to marry. Her blood chilled. That is except Preacher Carl from Chico. She stared at the trail the Burkett boys had made. Maybe if she joined up with them, the people of the town would like her.
Ha, what a crazy world.
Hayden scowled at his brothers. “What do you mean you went into town and got some things at the store? I thought you didn’t have any money.”
Greg pulled out a bag of tobacco. “That’s right. It’s not like we go shopping. We’re really just going to take back what they owe us. Besides, we dropped off some packages at the Jordan ranch.”
Hayden knocked the bag out of his hand. “You’re wrong, and someday you’re going to pay.”
Cole picked up the bag and handed it back to Greg. “No, they’re just paying us back for what they stole from us. If you’d been here, you’d have seen how it was. You weren’t back from the war yet. They took everything. Wouldn’t even let us buy Ma the medicine she needed.”
Hayden wished he’d been with his family. Maybe things would have been different. Or maybe, he would understand their ways. “Well, all this is going to bring you is trouble.”
Pa walked in. “That spring you found has a nice little pond now. That should tide the cattle over until we take them out.”
Hayden turned to him. “Most of them are mavericks. You can brand them yourselves and start a herd. Turn the one with a brand back out on the prairie and be done with it. You know how rustlers end up.”
“We aren’t rustlers. God knows that. We’re not thieves either. Most of the town knows how we were done wrong. It’s retribution.”
“You mean revenge.”
His pa turned to him. “No, I don’t want revenge. Just what is owed us.”
Hayden waved his arm at their surroundings. “You live in a cave hiding out like rats.”
Greg shoved him. “You’re here. Don’t see you leaving.”
Hayden pleaded with his family. “Look, why don’t we start a ranch of our own. We could round up more mavericks and drive them north. Together we can make it work.”
His pa whittled a piece of wood. “No, we still got scores to settle. The only family that treated us decent was the preacher. They had us for dinner a couple times. I respect them.”
Hayden clenched his fist. “It’s not going to end well.”
Pa looked square at him. “If you want to go, go. I won’t stop you. I just ask you not to tell where we are.”
“You know I wouldn’t do that.”
Greg rapped him on the shoulder. “Then you’re really just like us. A good law-abiding citizen would tell where the local gangs’ hideout was.”
There was truth in his brother’s words. More than Hayden wanted to admit. “You’re my family. I want us to be a family again.”
Pa looked at him. “You know, you’re of age to take a wife. Got any girls you’re interested in?”
“No. Haven’t even thought of it. I want to offer a woman something other than a few dollars and a horse. If I had a little spread, say in Montana, I’d find me a wife.”
Pa shook his head. “They don’t just pop up like rabbits. Takes time to court a girl proper. There’s a lot of desperate widows since the war. Have to watch out for them. We take care of our share.”
“And what do you have to offer a woman? A hideout in a cave?”
Cole laughed. “A wife is far from my mind.”
“You’re too young. But Greg and even Pa could find one.”
Pa stared into nothing. “It would be nice to have a woman’s touch. I miss your ma. Such a fine woman. But you’re right, this is no place for a woman.”
Greg threw a rock at the wall. “I do miss a woman’s cooking.”
Cole frowned. “Yeah. Not like we can go to Carol’s diner anymore. Don’t have the money, and the sheriff would pick us up and put us in jail.”
Hayden stared at his family. “Have you broken the law bad enough to earn a jail sentence?”
Pa shrugged. “Well, there was the time we took Mr. Farley’s pig. He saw us and shot his shotgun at us, although I think he aimed high on purpose.”
Greg walked to the entrance. “There was the time we took clothes off the sheriff’s clothesline. Think we really made him mad.”
Cole nodded. “Then we just went in the general store and helped ourselves to supplies. Only what we could carry, but people saw us.”
Hayden wiped his forehead. “So no really bad things. Well, I’m going to turn that branded steer out on the prairie. And I want you to burn that hide, Cole. The one that had the Duston brand.”
Pa grabbed his arm. “What are you thinking of doing?
“Getting you three out of trouble. Real trouble.”
Hayden saddled his horse, watched to make sure Cole burned the incriminating hide, and then roped the branded steer and dragged it toward the cave to set him free. It made him mad when he saw his brothers and pa just sitting around watching. Why they couldn’t see that they were headed to jail or a rope, he didn’t understand.
But he couldn’t just sit still and see them ruin their lives and name.
***
It had been several days since her talk with Donna, and Penelope had mulled over and over what the woman had said. It would seem that those who lived normal lives and indulged in things she would consider wrong and in need of a talking to, were well-liked and even respected. While she, a woman who toed the line between good and evil, was looked down on and even ridiculed.
Things didn’t make sense to her. Not at all. Her siblings, who frequently flouted the rules in her face, were all well-liked, and Angela was marrying the one man that Penelope had deemed a good catch. Perhaps she should go after one of the Burketts. She laughed. That would never happen.
Still, she considered them a better catch than the stiff Preacher Carl.
“Penelope, I need you to go into town this morning and buy potatoes and carrots. I need to lengthen the stew. Father has invited Mrs. Whitson and that bounty hunter for dinner.”
How her father could invite Rand Ketcham over for dinner was beyond her. The man had hunted others for money. Even got his wife killed. It was by accident, but it was his fault just the same. He never set foot in church, even though father practically begged him to.
“Yes, Mother.” Penelope grabbed her reticule and shawl. The early morning weather was blustery and hinted that winter was just around the next wind change.
She loved the weather. The cloudy sky choked with dark blue clouds. Leaves that whipped around her feet scurrying across the road. The fat, bushy-tailed squirrels that frantically hunted acorns for the coming winter.
She was grateful they had a nice warm cabin to live in. Texas was known for its hot summer, but from fall to spring, they could have all four seasons the same day.
She hurried to the store and considered how good mother’s potato soup and stew would taste on this cold night. She picked out a dozen potatoes and paid. Outside, she saw two of the Burketts ride behind the stores.
Curious, and righteously indignant that they might come back into town so soon after their raid on the general store, Penelope walked down the alley and followed them.
They were either not very bright or didn’t expect anyone to watch them because they didn’t notice her. That or they were like everyone else in the town and treated her as if she were invisible. In back of the harness shop, she leaned against the wall to see what they were doing and set the bag of potatoes down.
The older one, Greg she thought was his name, got down and jimmied open the back door to the bank.
Penelope ran down an alley and back up another to get closer to the two.
The bank door was open, and Greg nodded to his brother. “Give ’em to me.”
Cole handed a squirming sack to his brother. “Make sure you untie it.”
“I’m no fool.” Greg grinned. He untied the rope around the top of the bag and then threw the bag inside the bank. “That ought to give them something to think about.”
He mounted, and they rode away.
Penelope kept in the shadows of the building and watched them ride up the hill and hide behind some trees. She eased along the wall to the back door to the bank and looked at the sign the brothers had tacked to the door. It read, Keep your stinkin’ money.
What were they up to? She glanced to their hiding place. They were faced toward the front of the bank. She wanted to run after them and tell them how wrong they were when it hit her. The people of Duston liked the Burketts.
Grabbing the pencil from her pocket, she added to their sign. “We have Penelope Wyler. Pay Ransom to get her back.”
She grinned. Her first shenanigan. She walked down the alley onto Main Street. The bank was open, but no one had seen the sign in the back. Penelope started for the livery but stopped when she realized she couldn’t rent a horse, or the town would know she hadn’t been kidnapped.
She had to take one. Walking casually, she went toward the sheriff’s office. His horse was tied neatly to the hitching post. She patted the sorrel and undid his reins from the post. She kept walking and led him down the alley. With a grin, she mounted the horse and rode him toward where the Burketts had been.
She didn’t see them and kept the horse at a steady pace. She wouldn’t let on that she was following them. At the top of the hill, she saw them under a tree still watching the town. She kept the horse on a steady course past their hiding place and pretended not to see them.
They paid her no mind whatsoever. Whatever they had let loose in the bank was of more interest. When she was sure that they weren’t watching her, she reined the horse to some trees and hid behind a big oak where she could see the two Burketts.
Suddenly, they started laughing at the same time shouts from the town reached her ears. Sleepy Duston came alive. Shots rang out, and people spilled out of the bank as if it were on fire. Then the sheriff ran out of his office, gun drawn.
Penelope put a hand to her mouth to keep from laughing. It was clear by the shouts and hands over noses that a skunk was in the bank.
The two Burketts galloped past her hiding place.
She waited a moment and kept to the woods as she followed the two. They weren’t even looking back, so sure they were that they’d get away. No one had ever found their hideout.
Penelope grinned. “Well, you two are no match for me. I am an expert tracker.” She’d been known to surprise her brothers and sisters with her uncanny ability to follow them and not be seen. She’d used her skill as a means to catch them in their dastardly deeds. Now she’d used it to catch her a place with the well-liked and admired outlaw gang.
She already felt normal. Perhaps Mother’s idea of things working out would come true.
Hayden saddled his horse. Where and what he was going to do, he was still unsure. He was not part of their gang and not willing to enter into their lifestyle of robbing and rustling even if they used it to help others.
He was about to ride away when Pa stopped him. “Son, I want you to stay. Help us get straight. Your brothers anyway.”
Hayden looked at him. “How am I to do that? I wanted to, but Cole and Greg lit out for town with some scheme on their minds. I won’t go on one of your raiding jobs? No sir. I’m no outlaw.”
“We’re not much of a gang. Only took what we and others needed to survive.”
“You got this place. You could have grown a garden. Raised cattle. Instead, you’ve sat around and moaned about how you were robbed by Duston, the bank, and anyone you decided was responsible. Instead of working hard to get yourself out of trouble, you sunk yourself and my brothers into the outlaw life.”
“Not really. Most know we take a few things and give to those in need. Most of the town likes us.”
“I doubt that’s true. Maybe at first, folks felt sorry for you, but now, they’re probably ready to go to the sheriff.”
“At least wait until Greg and Cole get back.”
“What are they doing? Robbing the bank?”
Pa shook his head. “They wanted to leave the town a message.”
Hayden tied the horse to a tree and walked to the cave. “They better hurry. I’ve grown tired of trying to talk sense into you. But I won’t be brought down to the likes of outlaw life. I have enough for a small start on a ranch. Come with me. I planned on staying around here, but I’ll leave if that’s what it takes. We can go far away where the law won’t reach you.”
Pa spit at the ground. “We want to stay in Texas. Right here. Just sorry that you can’t hold out with us a little longer. I do have a plan that I’ve been thinking about.”
Hayden stared at his father and couldn’t stop the uneasy feeling that crept up his spine. When his Pa came up with a plan, it could only mean one thing. More trouble.
“They should be back anytime. This is our last bit of trouble. It’s our way to make the town pay a little for the sorrow they caused us.”
Hayden shook his head. “Others suffered after the war, too. No reason for you to go on wallowing in self-pity for so long. Most have moved on and made a better life for themselves.”
“That’s not true, and you know it. What about the Fielders? They left to go back to Ohio with their tails between their legs to live at the mercy of Yankee relatives. The Jarrod’s died of cholera on the prairie. Homeless. So, don’t tell me everyone worked things out.”
“Ma wouldn’t approve of whatever it is you’ve schemed up.”
“She’s gone. We have to go on living, and this is just a small way to make the town pay for taking our land. Our home. Our livelihood.”
Hayden turned from him and sat on the boulder by the fire. “I give up. There’s no talking any sense to you. I hope they’re not robbing the bank.”
His father grinned. “No, we wouldn’t do that. Have faith, son. It’s going to work out.”
Hayden couldn’t do anything other than groan. He hated to even wonder what Greg and Cole were up to now. Hayden was hungry but didn’t even want to dig into the stolen bread and bacon. Others had worked hard for the staples that his family had taken. He wasn’t even sure if they could stop living the outlaw way.
What he’d seen was Greg being lazy. He would barely see to the cattle in the field. Cole was worse and their pa the worst. None of them had the gumption to go and round up stray cattle, and Texas was full of cattle just waiting for someone with a little gumption to round them up. Hayden knew because he’d rounded up plenty while working for Duston.
“Hope you haven’t stolen any horses.”
“Nope, we still just got the ones we had when they drove us from the land. You don’t know how unfair it was. The carpetbaggers moved in like a horde of locusts. Raised taxes and then went about the land taking ranches and farms from those who had carved them out of the wilderness. Offered no pay, just demanded we pay the exorbitant taxes or go.”
“Sorry, I was gone. I know you hold it against me that I fought for the Union. I owed them an extra year of service. Then I was out in Colorado territory to keep peace with the Indians. I came home as quick as I could.”
Pa shrugged. “I wasn’t happy about you fighting for the blue, but you were grown and had the right to choose. Greg took it hard. Ma, well, she grieved you two gone off to war with the idea you could fight each other. Me and Cole took care of things as best we could, but the fever still got your ma. Times were hard. There was no money. What little we had, we spent on food. Still, we near starved, and your ma died.”
“Let’s leave this area and go north. There’s lots of good land.”
“No. I want my ranch back.”
“You know that’s not going to happen. Duston owns it now. He doesn’t give his land back.”
Throwing a rock at the fire, Pa nodded. “Yeah, guess I really know that.”
“You could carve out a ranch right here. Nobody owns this land.”
“Because it floods in the spring. Dries up in the summer.”
“We could make it work. If we dug up that spring and made it a bigger pool the cattle would have water in the summer. Then when we made some money, we could buy more land and move the cattle from one pasture to another. That’s what Duston does to even out the grass for the animals.”
“We’ll see.”
“Pa, if you break the law, you’re likely to go to jail, or a have a rope around your neck.”
“I hear your brothers coming back.”
Hayden stood waiting to see what trouble they’d brought down on their heads.
***
Penelope wasn’t far behind the two when they turned and rode up a hill and disappeared. She dismounted. Fearing the horse would give her away, she tied him to a tree and followed their tracks up the hill. She stopped behind a boulder and saw the opening to a cave. If she hadn’t followed those two, she’d have never seen it. This must be their hideout.
Now what? How does one give up a too-good life and join a group of friendly outlaws? Laughing, she wondered if the town was worried and already searching for her. Then she had a sobering thought. What if the town didn’t care and instead were looking earnestly for the sheriff’s horse?
Penelope shrugged. “Oh, what does it matter. I either go in there and learn how to be normal so I can win a man that I might love, or I marry Carl from Chico.” The thought hurried her steps, and in minutes, she stood in the entrance staring at four men.
The stand off lasted a minute when the older Burkett shouted. “Get her.”
The nearest son grabbed her arms.
Penelope didn’t resist and couldn’t help but roll her eyes. Not like she was trying to resist. Finally, she spoke up. “I come in peace. I want to join your gang.”
The one that held her arms got a puzzled look on his face. “Pa, did you hear?”
The older Burkett went to her. “What are you doing out here, Missy?”
“I said, I want to join your gang. Do you have trouble with your hearing?”
Another brother came to her and led her inside the cave. “Anyone following you?”
“No. My horse is tied up just down the hill.”
“Cole, get the horse.” Greg turned to his pa. “What are we going to do with her?”
The older man frowned. “Bring her in the cave. Better tie her up.”
Penelope whirled out of Greg’s grasp. “You don’t listen very well. I said I wanted to join your gang.”
Bob Burkett growled at her. “You don’t tell us what to do. What do you mean you want to join the gang?”
Greg shook his head. “Don’t trust her. She’s the preacher’s daughter. The goody one that rats on everyone.”
“I do not!” Penelope wanted to slap him, but the truth of his words halted her impulse. “That is, I don’t want to anymore. I want to be normal. Everyone in town likes you all.” She choked on a sob, regained her wits, and nodded. “I want to be as well-liked as you all are.”
Bob grinned. “Well, what do you know. So, the town likes us.”
She nodded. “The way you give stuff to folks in need. A lot of the families remember how cruel the carpetbaggers were to everyone in Duston. And they remember who profited from them. I’d say you and your sons are heroes.”
A shadow crossed the cave, and another Burkett walked in from the cave’s back entrance. “Heroes! They’re outlaws. Take your crazy schoolgirl notions and get out and far away.”
Bob grabbed her arm. “Hayden, she can’t leave now. Can’t let her go and blab about where we are.”
“Pa, we got a problem.” Cole stood at the entrance to the cave leading the sheriff’s horse.
“What now?”
“Her horse. It’s the sheriff’s.”
Silence blanketed the cave.
Finally, Hayden shoved past her to Cole. “You sure?”
He nodded. “Yep, See the saddle. Plus, I remember he had a sorrel. Ask her, she must have stolen it.”
Hayden turned to her, fire smoldering in his eyes. “That true? Did you steal the sheriff’s horse?”
Penelope held her head high. “Borrowed. I wouldn’t steal anything.”
“Doubt the sheriff is going to believe that one. You satisfied Pa? She’s brought the law down on us now. And a rope.”
Penelope was getting a little worried. “Well, I didn’t think he’d mind if I borrowed his horse. That’s not a hanging offense.”
Bob sighed. “We better pack up. Were they following you?”
She shook her head. “No. No one knows where I am. I was careful.”
Hayden gestured for Cole to walk the horse through the cave. “Best thing is if one of us takes the horse far away and turns him loose.”
Bob looked at him. “Might be dangerous.”
Penelope bit her lip. “There’s more.”
All four of the Burketts stared at her. Finally, Bob gestured for her to sit on a boulder. “Better tell us.”
“I saw those two putting something in the bank, and they left a note on the back door.”
Cole nodded. “That’s right. Deposited a family of polecats. That bank and its money will stink for months.”
Pa stared at them. “That what you two were up to. Well, couldn’t happen to a dirtier bunch.” He laughed. “Wish I could have seen the ruckus.”
“It was great, Pa. People ran out of the bank holding their noses.”
Hayden paced between her and the others.
Penelope cleared her throat. “I saw the note and added to it.”
Hayden stopped and stared at her. “Added what?”
“I added that you were holding me for ransom.”
Another long bout of silence covered the cave.
Bob pulled Penelope up to face him. “What do you mean, for ransom?”
Penelope’s hopes of things-will-work-out evaporated in the fire in the man’s eyes. She shrugged. “Well, I just put that you had me and were holding me for a ransom.”
Hayden put his hands on either side of his head. “That does it. Horse stealing and kidnapping a woman. Preacher’s daughter no less. We have one chance, and that is to turn ourselves in and explain what she has done.”
“I just wanted to join your gang. I need to learn how to get others to like me.”
Hayden stared at her. “Really? Well stealing the sheriff’s horse is not recommended.” He turned to his father. “I’ll take her back. Try and explain what happened while you three ride away. Don’t even tell me where you’re going.”
Greg checked his gun. “I’m not running. We have a good set up here.”
Hayden glared at him. “Well, she found us. If they get a good tracker, they’ll be knocking on our front door.”
Penelope sat down on the boulder. “Please, help me. I didn’t mean you any harm.”
Bob looked at her. “Well, you might not have, but I fear you brung down the hard arm of the law on our heads. Boys, we need to have a meeting. Alone.” He glared at her.
“I’ll sit right here.” Penelope smoothed out her skirt. What had she done? Now, she could add the most likeable outlaw gang to her list of detractors.
Rand was just going into town for a piece of pie at Carol’s when he heard shots and people shouting. The sheriff was in the middle of the street yelling when Rand kicked Black Jack into a lope and rode toward him.
“What’s wrong, Grady?”
“Go over to the bank and take a whiff. And then tell me where my horse is!”
Rand rode toward the bank and stopped yards from the front door. “You been skunked?”
Wilson, the bank owner, nodded and wiped his face. “I better go to the creek and wash this stuff off me. The Burketts dropped polecats in the back door. Little striped devils waited until the bank was full of people before they strutted out and did their dirty work.”
Suppressing a laugh, Rand nodded. “How do you know it’s the Burketts?”
“Ask the sheriff. He has the note.”
Rand turned the horse back to the sheriff. “A note?”
Nodding, Grady handed it to him. “We need to get men together. They kidnapped the preacher’s daughter.”
Taking the note, Rand stepped down from the horse. “Penelope Wyler. She’s the one—”
“The too-gooder that takes it on her own to set everyone on the straight and narrow. Yes, that one. Ought to just leave her there with them, and maybe they’ll volunteer to bring her back.”
Rand grinned and then turned serious. “Her folks know?”
“Not yet. They stole my horse. That or the confounded animal untied his reins again.” Clearly irritated, the sheriff looked at him. “You wouldn’t want to help me find her, would you?”
Rand shook his head. “I’m out of the tracking business.”
“You said that before but found Ben Anderson and that dandy, Baxter.”
“I’m not even wearing my gun.” Rand lifted his arms to prove he was gun-naked.
“I see.”
“I just came to town to pick up a piece of pie and some supplies for Grace.”
“Rand, one of these days you’re going to have to join civilization again. I could sure use you.”
“Not today.” Not wanting to rehash the same old arguments, Rand shook his head and led his horse to the store. He had to laugh at the people streaming for the creek. Rand could smell the skunk, now. The little critters must have emptied their stink canteens in the bank.
With small regret, he remembered that Grace had said how the preacher had invited them over for dinner tonight. Not that he didn’t like Penelope, but from what he’d seen of her, she might as well be Saint Peter’s secretary writing the list of wrongs for those in Duston. He figured she had quite a list of his sins.
It was no wonder she wasn’t married. Doubtful she’d rope any man willing to marry her. The man would spend a lifetime paying for his errors. No sir, she was a hard woman. Funny, he didn’t see the preacher in that light.
Mr. Wyler always struck him as a man who walked the Good Book out. Always kind. Giving. Rand had never felt the man condemned him for his past profession. Somehow, his daughter didn’t get the same message. Maybe being kidnapped would do her some good. He grinned and doubted it would do the Burkett gang any good.
He entered the store and picked up the few items Grace had requested. He waited for the clerk to total up his bill.
The clerk grinned. “Terrible thing about Miss Penelope. Kind of funny about the bank. Would be funnier but my wife had gone in to make a deposit. She’s soaking in lemonade and peroxide right now.”
Rand threw his payment on the counter. “I’m sure they’ll turn Penelope loose.”
He laughed. “Yes, I think you’re right. But it will be some time before anyone will want money from the bank. Mr. Wilson said he put all the tainted money in a bag and then stuffed it in a strong box and locked it. He’s wiring the big bank in Waco for fresh bills.”
Rand shoved his hat back on his head. “Well, they do call it dirty money.”
“Yes, yes they do.” The clerk laughed. “I have to laugh now because my wife won’t allow it once she returns. I’m sure she’ll want those Burketts hung high and dry.”
Rand nodded. “Yes, sir. Wouldn’t want to be in their shoes.”
Figuring he had time for a coffee and piece of pie, he stopped at Carol’s Diner. There weren’t as many customers as usual. Seems many of them were in the creek trying to wash off the smell.
Carol walked to him with a pleasant smile on her face.
Rand readied himself for the woman’s sweet talk. It was no secret she wanted to get married and had her eyes on him, but Rand was in no mood to rehash that debate. He’d married. Once. And lost his wife. He couldn’t go through that again.
“I’ll have a piece of pie and coffee.” He thought if he headed her off, she wouldn’t try and make polite conversation with him.
Carol wiped her hands on the towel she always carried. “Did you hear about the commotion? And that poor Penelope has been taken by those outlaws.”
“I hardly think the Burketts are outlaws.”
“They stole the sheriff’s horse.”
“Maybe.” He stopped the other words that wanted to rush out and quiet the woman’s twenty questions. Grace would be proud of him. She’d been trying to tame his surly attitude.
“I’ll get the pie.” She turned to go but muttered. “Uh oh.” And rushed to the back of the café.
Rand glanced out the window and said his own, “Uh oh.” The sheriff and preacher Wyler were walking toward the café. Rand braced himself. After finding Baxter Dalton, he’d promised he wasn’t going to let any woman trick him into tracking down a missing person.
Carol set the pie down for him, nodded at the preacher and sheriff and went to the back.
Rand scooped up a bite of the pie and readied to say no.
The sheriff held the door for the preacher. “Rand, just stay right there and hear us out.”
Heart thumping and already angry, Rand forced himself to stay seated. That they meant to wrangle him into a search for Penelope was obvious.
The men sat at this table. The sheriff raised two fingers. “Two coffees, Carol.” He stared at Rand. “You know why we’re here. We need your help.”
“I tend my rose garden. I’m retired.” He sipped the last of his coffee. There’d been a day when he would have slammed his cup down and left without hearing them out. Rand had softened since then.
Preacher Wyler put his hands together and bowed his head for a second. “Mr. Ketcham, I know you have wanted to retire ever since your, well, it was a tragic accident. Your wife. Her death.”
Rand winced.
“My daughter has been taken hostage. They want a ransom to set her free. We need your help.”
“I’ll chip in some money. That is if you don’t mind blood money.” He looked toward the bank. “That is if you want to wait until Wilson gets some clean money.”
The sheriff set his cup down with a thud. “You know that’s not what we want. I need your help to track the Burketts.”
“They’ve never done me wrong. I agree with some of their reasons.”
Grady hit his badge. “Horse stealing and kidnapping cross the line, and you know it. This isn’t taking a few potatoes from the store to give to the widow.”
Rand frowned. The sheriff was right. It wasn’t like the Burketts to go full outlaw. “You sure it was them?”
“They left the note on the door. No proof it was them who stole my horse, but that he went missing the same time as the girl was taken makes it obvious.” The sheriff stared at him.
The Preacher looked at him with hope in his eyes.
Feeling surrounded and beaten, Rand nodded. “What do you want me to do?”
Wyler pulled out a few dollars. “I’d like to hire you to find Penelope.” He shoved the money toward Rand.
Pushing it back to the preacher, Rand shook his head. “I won’t take your money.”
“But you’ll look for her?”
Rand was about to say no when the bell over the door rang. He looked up to see Grace and Mrs. Wyler walking toward him and groaned. He had a hard time denying his mother-in-law anything. He’d even built her a cabin near his house. In remembrance of Susanna, he’d do anything for his mother-in-law. After all, it was because of him that she’d lost her only daughter.
The sheriff gave him a wry grin. “If we leave now, we should be able to follow their tracks. My bum knee tells me rain is coming. If we wait, we’ll be at a disadvantage. My horse has a chip out of his right front shoe to make it easier.”
Rand shook his head. “I don’t want to do this anymore.”
Grace took his hand. “Rand, it’s time to move forward. Let the past go and realize that you can help others.”
He stared at her. “Don’t ask me to go.”
She let go of his hand. “All right. I won’t.”
Priscilla Wyler stepped forward. “Well, I will. That is my daughter out there. I know many don’t like Penelope, and she rubs many the wrong way. And yes, she runs around making lists of wrongs others do, but it’s because of a misguided sense of justice that she does it. I’m appealing to your sense of justice. Help us get Penelope back and stop the Burketts from going deeper into a lawless life. Help us and help them.”
What was it about women that turned his resolve into the consistency of mashed potatoes? He looked at Mrs. Wyler and nodded. “All right. Sheriff, think you can find another horse to go with me?”
“Already have one.”
“Let me go home to get my guns.”
Grace ran outside and came back with his gunbelt. “I brought them with me. Extra cartridges, too. I also packed your saddlebag with food and your bedroll.”
Rand had to grin. “You’re in a hurry to get rid of me.”
“No, but I want to see you a happy man again. Susanna would want that.” She looked tenderly at him.
She reminded him of his own mother, that and he hoped Grace could find happiness, too. Grace had been happier since she started going back to church and visiting with the preacher and his wife.
Preacher Wyler stood. “I’m going with you.”
Rand started to protest, but the sheriff stood with him. “I’ll get you a horse and a gun. I don’t think the Burketts will be dangerous, but we need to be prepared.”
The preacher stopped him. “I’ll take the horse but not the gun.”
The sheriff looked at him, back to Rand, and then nodded. “All right. Just the horse. You go to the store and grab some jerky and hard tack. Meet me in front of the jail.”
Rand jammed his hat on his head and walked out the door. He didn’t say any more to anyone. Didn’t trust himself to contain the anger that boiled under the surface. Not that he was angry at any of them, only at the past and the loss of his wife. He didn’t think he’d ever be free of that rage.
***
Hayden paced outside the cave entrance. Now his brothers had done it. Crazy fools. Though they’d only gone in for mischief, they’d come back with big trouble. Problems that they needed to face.
Pa smoked his cigar nervously. “Wish you boys hadn’t gone into town. Funny about the skunks, but this Penelope and horse business can get us into real trouble.”
Hayden pointed in the cave. “We need to put her on that horse and send her back to town, and then we all need to leave this cave and go north.”
Greg stood and faced him. “I’m not going to be run out of Texas because of some silly girl.”
Hayden shook his head. How could he be involved in this mess? He’d just stopped for a night or two to talk some sense into his family. Now, that red-headed siren had brought danger to all them.
He glared into the cave and saw her sitting on the boulder. She was a pretty thing. Crazy girl, coming into their hideout saying she wanted to be bad and join their gang so others would like her. What was that about?
Cole shrugged. “I don’t know. She’s pretty. Maybe she can cook.”
Pa grabbed his youngest son by the shoulder. “That would be nice wouldn’t it. Sorry you haven’t had much of a woman’s touch in your upbringing. That’s my fault. Maybe Hayden is right. We’ve got to clear out. Go straight.”
“You got to do something about that woman and the sheriff’s horse.” Hayden was beside himself. Was he the only sane one in the bunch?
Greg gave a wry grin in the direction of the cave. “Maybe we can get her to marry one of us. That would get us out of trouble.”
Hayden shoved him from the cave entrance. “What about the horse?”
“We can turn him loose. No proof we took it.” Cole stared at him.
“None that you know of. Someone might have seen her on the horse.” Hayden took up pacing again. He thought better on his feet and moving. “The best thing would be if we put her on that horse and head her toward town.” Thunder rumbled to the north, and a gust of wind threw cold air in his face.
Pa blew cigar smoke against the wind. “There’s your answer. We can’t throw her out in the cold. She might get thrown or hurt.”
Hayden nodded. “So, she stays here until the storm is gone. You just better pray that the sheriff doesn’t find our hideout.”
Cole smiled. “I’m going to ask her.” And he ran into the cave.
Hayden glanced at his pa. “Ask her what?”
“I reckon he’s going to ask her to cook for us. Let’s get in there before we get rained on. Greg, take that horse and put him in the valley.” Pa grinned as if he too were thinking of home cooked meals.
Hayden could only watch them go. Great. His family was at risk for a rope around their necks, and all they could think of was food. He looked at the angry sky and wondered how he was going to get out of this mess. And get his family out of it as well.
Then there was that woman. What were they to do with Penelope?
Penelope surveyed the meager cooking equipment. A beaten frying pan. A pot equally as beaten, and a tin to cook biscuits in. She’d heard squawks out back. Found a cache of eggs and a sack of flour. Some bacon grease and bacon and ham.
They youngest Burkett ran inside the cave. “I’ll help.”
“Go out back and get a chicken. How does chicken and biscuits sound?”
“I can already taste it.” Axe in hand he dashed outside.
She liked him. He had an innocent likability about him. Ha, that was something she needed. Although she toed the line and never did anything wrong, no one called her innocent or likable. Yes, she’d have to corner Cole and get him to tell her how he did it.
At the door, she saw Greg and his pa talking. They looked worried and glanced at her. Finally, Bob came to her.
“Girl, you’ve caused us some trouble. We been in this valley and no one really cared what we did. Now, I fear you’re going to bring vengeance down on us. There are some who would like nothing better than to hang us to the nearest tree.” He picked his teeth with a splintered piece of wood.
“I had no intention of getting you and your sons in trouble. The thought came to me when I saw them in town. I need help.”
“Help? How can we help you?”
She stirred the flour and eggs. “Nobody in town likes me.”
“You got a young man interested in you?”
“No. And that’s another problem. My parents have it in their minds to marry me off to a bore of a man. I can’t let that happen to me. So, I decided I needed to learn how to make people like me. Everyone likes you and your sons.”
He spat on the ground. “I find that hard to believe. We stay here in a hideout. Not like we have folks over for socials. How’d you come up with this crazy scheme of yours?”
She pounded the biscuit dough and formed neat biscuits. “It was like a spark of genius. I saw Greg and Cole and watched them throw the varmints in the bank and then scatter. When I saw the people run from the bank I had to laugh. It was wrong, but even I had to laugh. The whole town was laughing. Except for some who had wanted to withdraw some money or those who got sprayed by the skunks.”
Bob laughed. “It does have a funny ring to it. Sometimes those boys come up with the most ornery things to do. But you say people like us?”
“Oh, yes. That you take from those who wronged many and give to those in need is well known. Your sons will not have trouble finding good women to marry.”
Bob squinted. “You interested in one of them?”
“Me? No. No!” She pulled her note paper out of her pocket. “No. I have my list of requirements. My husband-to-be must be a hard worker. Honest. Trustworthy. Religious. And handsome.”
“Sounds like you ought to stick to the preacher fella your parents picked out.”
“Oh, no. He is not at all what I would pick. Not at all.”
Bob threw the toothpick down and shook his head. “Girlie, you are a problem. Not sure what we’re going to do with you. But your cooking smells good. Might let you stay a day or so.” He started to leave, stopped, and turned to her. “Stay away from Greg. He’s not a man for you. Hayden might be. Yes, ma’am.” He stared at her and shook his head. “You are trouble.” He left her and went out the front of the cave.
Hayden had watched his pa and Penelope talking. He should take her out of this den of thieves right now. Save her and his family some heartache. He watched her. The flame flickered and sent a warm yellow glow over her. She was kind of pretty. That red hair stood out. She had a woman’s figure.
She glanced at him. “Don’t just stand there. Come and help.”
Bossy thing. Still, he walked to her. “What do you need?”
“Fill the water pot. Then find the dishes and make sure they’re clean.” She stopped and stared at him. “I haven’t heard much about you. Other than you went to war. Didn’t know you were back.”
“Took me some years to get back from the war. I had some big thinking to do and wasn’t sure my family would want me back. Then I went to work for Duston.”
“Duston. The man that took your ranch? You have a forgiving nature.”
“No, I just needed a job, and he hired me.”
“I’m surprised he would. Surely, he knew you were one of the Burketts that had owned the ranch he took over.”
“He knew. Asked me about it. Said he bought it outright for taxes. Asked me if I could still work an honest day’s work knowing I’d be on what used to be my ranch and working with some of what used to be my cattle. I told him I could and needed the job.”
Hayden watched her work. Quick and efficient she cut potatoes and then the chicken. Soon the cave filled with the savory aroma. Something he could only remember from dinners that Ma used to make.
She really was a pretty thing. A little tall but she had the curves in the right places. Her hair was dark red. Pretty, even if it was scattered in all directions.
Penelope glanced at him. “It’s not polite to stare.”
“You like to do that a lot, don’t you?”
“What?”
“Tell others what you think they’re doing wrong.”
She blushed. “I don’t either.”
“Huh, for the short time you been here, you’ve told each of us at least six things we do wrong.”
Penelope wanted to hit him. Verbally. But make him sting, nonetheless. Yet, there was truth in what he said. She’d heard it enough from her family. She set the knife down and added the chicken to the pot.
“I don’t know why I do that. I’ve always had a keen eye for right and wrong.”
Hayden nodded and leaned against the cave wall. “It’s not your eye that does the talking. Have you ever said anything nice to someone?”
All she could do was stare at him. Was he correct? Was she always concentrating on the wrong doing of others? Yet, she knew he was right. It’s what Angela had tried to tell her the other night.
“Do you think I’m pretty.”
Hayden eyed her up and down. “Yep. I think you’re one of the prettiest girls around these parts. At least wise the prettiest one in this cave.”
She threw a potato peel at him. “Funny.” Was it that she was ugly as well as mean worded?
“Hey, I didn’t mean anything about that last remark.” He walked to her and put a finger in her hair. “Yes, I’d say you’re mighty pretty. When the right fella comes around, he’ll make you feel pretty.”
Penelope stared at him as streaks of lightning ran up and down her spine. She looked into his eyes and saw kindness, strength, and tenderness. Suddenly, she couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think of a thing to say. Couldn’t even think of a thing to reprimand him for.
He let her hair go and stepped back. “I better see what my pa and brothers are up to.” He left the cave.
She watched him go and wished he would have stayed.
***
It took everything in Rand to not ride away from the sheriff and Mr. Wyler. The word slow fell short in describing the preacher. First, he had to get his horse and saddle it. Then he was praying. Rand had to wonder if the Lord counted words when deciding how to answer a prayer. If so, Preacher Wyler just might bring His Kingdom to come before they even left Duston.
Black Jack picked up in his impatience and pranced like a colt, making Rand leery that one of the preacher’s inquisitive sons might get kicked. To prevent trouble, Rand urged the horse away from the small house and to the road.
Grady stood as patiently as a saint waiting for the preacher. In fact, Rand thought he detected an amused grin on the lawman’s rugged face. Probably at his expense. Yes, he’d been roped into yet another expedition to save a woman.
And Penelope was a most unlikely woman to need saving. According to her, she was saved, and everyone else was on shaky ground. In fact, she had told him that he was on thin ice stationed over a hole leading to Hades. She was something.
Black Jack continued pacing and tossing his head.
Rand rubbed the horse’s withers. “Easy boy. Been a while since we’ve been out on a job, hasn’t it?” Rand gave in to an idle thought that he might be just as anxious for the excitement as the horse. He enjoyed the roses and felt as if he were close to Susanna when he tended the garden, but life had grown too slow.
He wasn’t ready to sit in a rocker and watch the world go by. Grace had urged him to go into town more. To ask the sheriff if he needed help. She’d even suggested working for the Texas Rangers.
He looked at the sweating horse and wondered if he reminded Grace of the high-spirited horse with nowhere to go and no reason to run. The preacher was almost ready to go when someone galloped toward them.
Rand laughed to himself. Probably one of the kidnappers coming to ask if they’d please take Penelope off their hands.
“Sheriff!”
The sheriff turned and walked toward the lathered horse. “What is it now?”
“Outlaws. They hit Chico yesterday. Shot up the town. Robbed the bank and killed one inside. The telegraph stopped halfway. Think the outlaws are coming this way?”
The sheriff looked back toward town. “I hate to do this Daniel, but I need to stay in town.”
The preacher nodded. “I understand. Rand and I can follow the trail.”
Thunder boomed to the south.
Rand shook his head. “We better hurry. Rain will wash away the tracks.”
A slash of lightning struck the ground in the distance.
Mrs. Wyler ran to her husband. “I don’t want you out in the storm.”
It was as if Rand could feel the disappointment in Black Jack. Or maybe it was his own. They weren’t going now. Not safe to ride in a thunderstorm equipped with lightning. “We’ll go after the storm. Maybe the kidnappers will contact you by then and tell you where to drop off the ransom.”
The sheriff agreed. “Rand, I could use you back in town. I want to be ready if the outlaws try and rob Duston.”
“Right.” He turned Black Jack around and headed for town. The horse walked. His excitement and Rand’s gone. Today would be another day like all the others he’d had since Susanna’s death.
Hayden had just saddled his horse when the first boom of thunder drew his attention. In a few minutes, a bolt of lightning shot out of the sky and streaked to the ground. It took five to ten seconds for the thunder to follow.
“No rush. Storm is coming.” He pulled the saddle from his horse and stopped his brothers from saddling theirs.
Cole looked up. “That came out of nowhere.”
Large drops of rain pelted them, and they ran into the cave.
Penelope looked at them. “What’s wrong?”
Pa glared at her. “Storm. We’ll stay here until it’s passed.”
She grinned. “I prayed for a storm. It will wash out all the tracks, and I’ll be safe here.”
Hayden shook his head. “What makes you think you’re safe here with a gang of outlaws?”
She walked to him and put her finger under his chin. “You, for one thing. You won’t let anyone harm me. She whirled away from him and addressed his pa. “Now, let’s wait out the storm, and you can teach me how to be liked.”
Pa glared at her. “You are one bossy little girl.” He pointed his finger at her. “That’s one thing you can stop doing if you want friends. That is what you want right?”
She nodded.
“Then you need to stop being so bossy. Coming into our hideout and telling us to clean up the place. As if that wasn’t enough, you made us all go take baths. Just who do you think you are?”
“Cleanliness is next to Godliness.”
Greg sneered at her. “Well, I ain’t never claimed either one.”
Holding her nose, Penelope nodded. “That was evident at the first whiff of you.”
Pa shook his head. “See you can’t even take instruction without putting us down.”
She frowned. “I think it’s my Christian duty to point out to others where they have fallen short.”
Hayden walked to the front of the cave and watched the storm. She said she’d prayed, and God had sent a storm to wash out their tracks. He’d prayed for help with his family, and God had sent Penelope. He shook his head. Something wasn’t right. What kind of answer to prayer was Penelope?
Cole studied her. “You’re pretty. But you don’t smile much. And when you do, it’s more like a fox-smirking in-the-hen-house look. Maybe practice on smiling like you mean it.”
She gasped. “That is not true.”
Greg and Pa shook their heads in agreement.
“Well, I can’t believe you think such a thing. I smile. I do.” Penelope frowned and even stomped her foot a little.
Pa stood and put a hand on her shoulder. “You don’t take instruction well. Seen that look on Greg’s face.”
“Hey, wait a minute. Don’t drag me into this.” Greg stood and walked to the cave entrance and stood by Hayden. “She’s crazy.”
Hayden nodded. “Yep, I think so.” He stopped but wanted to agree with their Pa. Greg never had taken instruction well and mostly rebelled against orders.
Penelope left the center and sat down in the dark corner of the cave. Arms folded, and lips pressed tight together. Hayden believed she’d not counted on hearing what she was doing wrong. Why had she even come to find them?
She was quiet for a few minutes.
He felt a tug on his heart to comfort her. Walking over to her, he wondered what was wrong with him. Why hadn’t he left and gone on to California, Wyoming, or Montana? Leave it to him to be the compassionate one. His ma had always told him that he was the one that got her mercy and left none for his brothers. Although Cole had a soft heart at times.
Pa and Greg were the hard ones. Maybe because of all they’d been through with losing Ma and the ranch. Cole had been young and missed the war. Hayden went and stood over Penelope and wondered what had happened to her.
“What do you want?” She stared at him with a belligerent look.
“Wanted to see if you wanted to talk. Find out about you.”
Her face softened. “Why?”
“You came here for help. I’m offering.”
She looked down. “Told you. I want to find out how to be popular and have friends.”
He studied her face. She really, really was pretty. Could be if she’d look as if she cared instead of daring you to knock off the block on her shoulder. “You know, people need to know they can trust you. That’s why they like the gang. They trust that we won’t hurt them. My brothers and Pa only take from those who took advantage of the rest of us. The carpetbaggers and those who worked with them, and then they trust that the gang will give things away to those in need.”
“It’s wrong.” Her attitude shone bright.
“Yes, I think so, too. But when they take from others, it’s for a reason that people understand.” Hayden pushed an unruly strand of her hair out of her face.
She pulled back. “I’m trying to help people, too.”
He grinned at her. “That’s not what people hear or see.”
Greg ran inside and kicked out the fire. “Thought I heard someone out there. Quiet.”
Hayden joined his brothers and looked out at the rain streaming down. It should keep the cave hidden by anyone riding by.
He glanced in the corner where he’d left Penelope. She hadn’t moved. In the dim light, he could just make out her form. She looked small and vulnerable, and he wondered what had made her become so judgmental.
Pa came over to them and handed him some cartridges. “Better be prepared.”
Hayden stared at him. “To what? Kill our neighbors? Shoot at people we’ve known most of our lives. The sheriff? The preacher?”
Pa glared at him. “You know I don’t want anyone hurt. But I don’t want my sons hurt either.”
“Us or them?”
“Yeah. That’s the way it’s always been. You didn’t understand that and went off to fight for the enemy.”
“It was our country. One country and that’s what I fought for. Besides, it’s not right to keep humans as if they were animals.”
“We never had a slave.”
“No, we didn’t. Even more reason to fight to preserve the Union.” Hayden scuffed his boot on the rocky floor of the cave. “It’s over, long over. Can’t we let it drop?”
Pa stared at him. “You disappointed me, boy. I counted on you to do me proud.”
The words burned Hayden’s chest. “I thought I did.” Not wanting to hear anymore, he walked away. He didn’t want to talk to them anymore. He’d been on a fool’s errand to think he could change his family and get them honest and out of their outlaw ways.
Hayden glanced skyward. “You sent the girl rain. Why don’t you listen to me?”
Penelope sat in the chill of the dark cave and wondered what on earth she was doing here. Selfishly, she’d wanted to find answers to help herself and had never given a thought that she may have put the Burketts in danger.
Her father would surely have the sheriff after her. The only good thing was the rain had washed away her tracks. Then again, she was stuck in a cave with a band of outlaws. Some friendly and some not so friendly.
She glanced at them huddled near the back. They were discussing what to do with her and the noise they heard outside.
Hayden left the group and stood at the cave entrance. He hunkered down, gun drawn, reminding her of a panther readying to pounce.
Penelope put a hand to her forehead. How could she have been so naïve? What had she been thinking when she followed Greg and Cole to their hideout? Then again, why hadn’t the sheriff followed those boys?
She did grin at the picture of the townspeople running from the bank and holding their noses. The Burkett boys had caused quite a stir, and the sheriff had been busy dealing with the bank.
Sadness speared her chest. Her father and mother would be frantic. Her brothers and sisters were probably more relieved that she was gone. Penelope wiped a tear from her cheek. She’d never been a very good sister to her siblings.
Being the oldest, she remembered with clarity when her dad held up her new sister. The jealousy she’d felt that day was as real now as that first day. And with each birth, it grew as her worth dwindled. No longer the only child, she had become the oldest of six and the little mother. A term she hated.
“Penelope, take care of your brothers and sisters.” That’s all she heard. She sighed. Perhaps that was what Hayden was trying to get her to see. Maybe there was a reason she always acted so harshly.
Then again, all she was doing was enforcing the Bible. It wasn’t her fault that others didn’t know what it said and strayed from the law.
What had shocked her the most was that Father, a preacher, sided with the sinful. Always taking her brother’s and sister’s sides. He’d even taken up for the Burketts. He was part of the reason she’d decided to ask them for help.
After all, if her father applauded their efforts, perhaps she should as well. And her need to become likable was great. Otherwise, she was going to wind up the wife of that Chico preacher. Ugh, she couldn’t stand the sight of Carl much less the way he walked and talked. Breathed.
No, even if she had to turn outlaw, she was not going to marry that man.
Hayden ducked back inside the cave and put a finger to his lips.
Penelope held her breath. Had she brought destruction down on them?
The other men slid into the shadows. Quiet blanketed the cave. Outside a horse nickered, and she could hear men talking.
“There’s a cave.”
“That posse will be hot on our tail. With the mud, they’ll find us. Let’s keep riding.”
Horses galloped away.
Penelope looked at Hayden.
He stayed crouched and tense. Minutes passed. Finally, he darted, cat-like, out of the cave. More tense minutes passed, and he came back. “We better get out. The rider was right, their tracks lead right up to our door. Whoever is chasing them will find us if we don’t get away.
Cole pointed at Penelope. “What do we do with her?”
Pa glared at her. “Take her with us. We don’t have a choice. If we leave her here, she’ll tell which way we went. Besides, we don’t know who is chasing who. I don’t want her getting hurt and us taking the blame.” He pointed at her. “Thanks Missy. You’ve caused us more trouble than you can know.”
“Sorry.”
“Yeah, sorry don’t patch things up.” He picked up his pack. “Let’s go boys. Saddle her horse and bring him in here. Hayden, keep an eye on her. We don’t want her dashing off on her own, and she’s ornery enough to do just that.”
Penelope stood and was about to counter his words when she caught sight of Hayden, and he slightly shook his head.
She nodded just as slightly to let him know she understood.
Hayden walked over to her and put his jacket around her shoulders. “Next time you run away, bring warmer clothes.”
She had to admit, she liked his warmth. His nearness. She looked into his eyes and longed to see something other than the usual disdain. Except for Preacher Chico, most men averted her gazes when she looked at them.
Hayden kept his gaze steadily on her. Looking at her.
Not exactly the warm look she’d wanted, but he wasn’t looking away. She liked his eyes. There was a tenderness in them.
Cole brought the sheriff’s horse. “I’ll help you up.”
She pulled away from him. “I can get on myself.” She tried to get a foot in the stirrup but struggled.
Hayden hoisted her onto the saddle. “We don’t have time for you to prove you can do anything better than the rest of us.” He handed the reins to Cole. “Hold her here until I get my horse.”
Penelope could still feel his warm hands around her waist. She closed her eyes dreaming that he liked her. Cared for her.
Hayden growled at his brother. “Give me the reins. I’ll watch her.”
She stared at him. Any warmth she may have felt was gone. One look at his face, and she saw that she was an unwanted burden to the four men. Her dreams shattered as she hung onto the saddle and looked at Hayden’s back.
What had she done?
***
Hayden led the woman and his family away from the men who’d come so near to finding them. He had a feeling they were dangerous men. Ones that he needed to protect her from. Her. That woman who had taken it upon herself to disrupt their lives.
She’d forced herself on them, making it imperative they protect her at all costs. Only thinking of herself and her problems. Selfish. Opinionated. Pointing her finger at them for every little wrongdoing. Who did she think she was?
A preacher’s daughter all right. Bringing enough fire and brimstone with her to make the horses cringe.
And now they had to give up the hideout to keep her safe.
Hayden halted his horse and looked back. Not at her. But at his family. Although she took up the center of his gaze. He hadn’t wanted to look at her. Gone was her know-it-all uppity look. Right now, she looked like a scared girl. And cold even with his jacket around her.
Pa rode around her and up to him. “What are you stopping for?”
“I wondered if anyone knew where we were going. It’s cold and raining. We’re responsible for—”
“It was her choice. There used to be an old shack on the Brazos up a few miles. Thought we’d try it out.” He shrugged his shoulders. “It is cold.” He looked at Penelope. “We’ll try and find shelter for her.”
Pa took the lead, his brothers followed and passed him and then Penelope.
Hayden waited until they were away from them. “I could take you back to town.”
She shook her head. “The others wouldn’t like it.” She wanted to go on and tell him that there was nothing but trouble to go back to. Her parents would surely marry her off to Carl. While she’d be warm, and the preacher would take care of her, she knew in her heart that it would kill the small spark of life in her that was trying to come alive.
All her life, she’d lived under the shadow of right and wrong. Afraid to give in to her desires to come alive and risk loving and liking others.
“I can’t promise you we’ll find shelter other than some branches and a small fire.”
She nodded.
“Hayden! Get up here.” Pa’s command bellowed through the cold blanket of drizzle.
“Penelope, this is no life or place for you.”
She kicked her horse to go past him. “I have nothing to go back to.”
Hayden shook his head following the trail left by his family. After a time, they reached the river. It was swollen and angry from the rain. The temperature was dropping, and sleet mixed with the drizzle.
Pa rode to him. “Cabin is on the other side of the river.”
“I know the one.” He stared at his father. “I want to take her back. This is no life for a woman.”
Pa looked past him at her. “She does look a might frail.”
“I’m not wanted. They won’t—”
Penelope kicked her horse and rode up between them. “I can make up my own mind. I’m warm enough. I told you I didn’t want to go back.”
Pa growled at her. “Missy, if I could find them men who routed us out of our hideout, I’d give you to them. Let’s go.” He whirled his horse around and headed for the river. “Best we get across now. It’s not going to get better by waiting.”
Hayden pulled her horse close to his. “I don’t know what your game is, but it’s liable to cost you. Pa is not the one to be trifling with. He can be a hard man.”
She held her head high. “I’m not afraid.”
“You should be.” He rushed his horse past her and followed his brothers. Pa was already in the river. The horse swimming but struggling.
Hayden tossed her the reins. “Let your horse have his head. You just hang on.”
“I can do that.”
He stared at her. Even cold and shivering, she was pretty. Unbidden, she tugged at his heart. If he had a lick of sense, he’d whisk her away from this river, his family, and take her to town.
She stared at him as she rode past and plunged into the river. He watched her. Anger and admiration twisting his feelings for her. So stubborn and proud. He followed her. Keeping an eye on her in case the horse stumbled.
And then she was on the other side. Wet and soaked but safe.
Hayden rode to her and grabbed the reins from her.
She pulled them back. “I think I proved I am going along. You don’t need to worry about me running off.”
He gave them to her. “I worry more about you not running off. Hurry, let’s get to that cabin and get you dry.”
Her eyes glinted. “I’ll not take my clothes off in front of you and your brothers.”
Hayden didn’t argue. No point in it. He wasn’t going to see her freeze and get sick. They rode another cold mile and saw that the old cabin was still there. Vacant and cold, it stood in the frosty mist.
Pa rushed in and back out. “There’s a stove. Get some firewood.” He glanced at Penelope. “The girl gets the blankets. Cole, you and Greg get the firewood, but throw your blankets in the house first.”
Hayden helped her down from the horse. She was shivering. Her lips blue, but her eyes fiery. He was beginning to like the fight inside her.
Pa threw some rope at him. “Tie off an area and hang a blanket over it. You, girl, get in there and take your wet clothes off. We’ll let ’em dry and wrap you in blankets.”
Penelope started to argue, but she was shivering so hard, the fight in her had frozen.
Hayden walked her inside the cabin. Drafty and dark, it offered little shelter. A broken shutter clattered letting the north wind free entry. He picked up a rock and tried to nail in the slats.
He pointed to the hanging blanket. “Go on. Nobody will look.”
She edged her way behind the cover.
After several minutes, Hayden called out to her. “You about ready?”
“N-n-no.”
He stood in front of the blanket. “Need some help?”
“Y-y-yes. Please.”
He stepped behind the cover and saw that she was still dressed in the dripping clothes. “You need to get out of those things.”
“I c-c-can’t. Too cold.” She stared at him. “Don’t look.”
Hayden shook his head. “At the buttons only.” As fast as his shaking fingers allowed, he undid the buttons.”
After the last one, she turned from him. “Thank you.”
He went back to his side of the blanket and waited. “Let me know when you’re ready. The boys have a good fire going.”
In minutes, she came out wrapped in her blanket.
Hayden wrapped his blanket around her too and led her to the fire. Gently, he pushed her onto the only chair in the small house and rubbed her shoulders.
She relaxed and in minutes, stopped shivering. She laid her head back and closed her eyes.
Hayden wanted to run his hands through her hair. Wanted to protect her. And then he shook his head. He was in no way ready to think of having a woman to care for. He needed to get his family away from the lifestyle they’d fallen into.
She sat up and stared at him. “Thank you.”
Her green eyes sliced through him. She’d only said two words, and she owned his heart.
Rand tired of watching an edgy town and edgier sheriff. No outlaws came to rob the town. And now the rain had erased the tracks to the Burketts. He was wasting his time. Not that he had anything else to do. Maybe trim a rose. Wash a couple dishes.
He stared down Main Street and willed something to happen. When had he become so bored? Then again, perhaps it was a sign that he was coming out of the grave of a black hole his wife’s death had sunk him into.
He slapped his hat against Grady’s foot. “I’m going to grab a bite to eat at Carol’s.”
Waking up, the sheriff stretched his back. “All right. I’ll join you in a few minutes. Wilson has the stinking money all wrapped up in a strong box. And he set it outside the bank and poured some of his wife’s perfume over it. He’s just asking for it to be stolen.”
“Not like we can take it inside the jail or Carol’s diner.”
The sheriff laughed. “No, although it doesn’t stink too bad in the box. Let me chain it to the post. I can keep an eye on it from the diner.”
A loud thud sounded.
Rand crouched, gun drawn.
“Relax, it was the wind. Knocked the store sign down.” Despite his calming words, the sheriff holstered his own gun.
“I see you’re relaxed.”
With a grin, the sheriff nodded. “Yeah, I’m a little jumpy. With the girl being taken, and word of the outlaws, I’m on edge. Lunch will do us both good.”
Rand held the door for the sheriff and then walked into Carol’s diner. She smiled at him and rushed to set them at the table by the front window. “Thought you two might want to watch the skunk money.”
“Thanks, Carol.” The sheriff positioned his chair to see the jail.
Rand nodded at her. “Just coffee.”
Sheriff patted the table. “I’m here for lunch. I’ll have the special.”
After Carol left, Rand leaned forward. “I can go out and look for the girl.”
“I don’t think she’s in any real harm. Haven’t gotten a ransom note for her yet.” The sheriff glanced out the window and frowned. “Here comes her father. I’m sure he’d want to go with you.”
Rand groaned. He wanted to ride out alone. Like the old days when he tracked men. What he sure didn’t want was a preacher tagging along.
The door opened, and a cold breeze entered along with the preacher. Daniel Wyler nodded and sat at their table.
“Sheriff, Mr. Ketcham, I’m worried about Penelope. It’s cold and getting colder. She could be lying out there hurt.”
Rand saw the fear in the man’s eyes. “I was going out to look for her. I can travel quicker alone.”
“No, I need to go with you. I feel it in my soul. Somehow, I have failed my daughter. My Penelope needs me. I’m ready whenever you are.”
“You have a horse? A gun?”
“I do. The animal is a bit old, and the gun is my old shotgun.”
Rand wanted more than anything to tell the man, no. But he saw the desperation in the preacher’s eyes. Nothing was going to stop him from going. “We’ll stop by the livery and pick up a fresh horse for you. Sheriff here can loan you a good rifle.”
Grady nodded.
The preacher looked down. “I don’t handle guns. Hunted when I was younger is about all.”
Rand stared at him. “You’ll do fine. Let’s go.” That he’d told the man he’d do fine was stretching the truth a mile or two. Yet, Rand felt in his gut that the preacher was supposed to go along. He got up and went to the door. Without looking back, he warned. “Make sure you keep up.”
Leading his horse to the livery, Rand grinned when he heard the preacher’s footsteps behind him. He might be a greenhorn, but Preacher Wyler was one determined man. Rand hoped they could find where the Burketts had taken his daughter.
At the livery, he picked out a sturdy but docile horse for the preacher and had him saddled. Turning, he nearly ran into Wyler.
“We’ll leave in a few minutes. Did you get your bedroll?”
“I brought it with me. I was going to look for Penelope whether you went with me or not.”
Rand nodded. “Once I get on the trail, I don’t stop for anything.”
The preacher stared him in the eye. “I’d think less of you if you did. Thanks for letting me join you.” He paused. “Besides, sometimes the Lord has a couple of plans going at the same time.” He grinned and climbed into the saddle. “Don’t worry. I can ride. I won’t slow you down.”
Now it was Rand who felt ill at ease. What had he meant by that? Preacher Wyler had made it no secret that he’d wanted to talk. About God things. About Susanna’s death. Anger at being trapped into riding with this man, alone, made Rand’s blood boil.
Rand walked away, tossing his words over his shoulder. “Let’s go to the sheriff’s and get that rifle.”
The preacher kicked his horse into a slow lope to keep up. “I really don’t want to use one, but if it makes you feel better, let’s go.”
“Funny, very funny.” Rand looked into the sky and hoped the Lord would understand how unfair this all was. “Just help us find Penelope quickly.”
Disgusted with himself, Rand slapped his leg with the reins causing Black Jack to prance. “Not even on the trail, and the man has me praying. It’s not right. Not right at all. I’m losing it.”
The sheriff met them at the door and handed the rifle to the preacher. “Watch for that gang of desperados, and I don’t mean the Burketts. Stay safe and bring that girl home.”
Rand nodded and rode out of town. He didn’t look back. Didn’t wait for the preacher to say goodbye to his family. Didn’t even talk to him. No, the man was going to have to prove himself, or Rand would send him back. Rand only hoped it would be soon. Was it a bad thing to pray for the preacher to get saddle sore?
***
Penelope cooked the gang ham and beans with her special biscuits. One thing was sure, they appreciated her cooking. They even talked to her and hardly ever rolled their eyes at the things she would say. In fact, she was getting along with the Burkett gang better than she had with anyone in town or her church. Including her family.
She dished out the meal to the hungry men. Greg and the father were annoyed with her but appreciated the dinner. Cole adored her. But it was Hayden who puzzled her the most. At times, he was nice to her. Even seemed to like her. And at others, he was downright obnoxious. Almost as if he wanted her to leave.
Hayden took the plate from her. “Go ahead and sit down. We can get refills if we want. And after we’re through, we can all clean our own plates.” He took a bite. “Good. Thanks.”
“My pleasure.” She took a bite and then looked at the men around her. “Didn’t any of you wash up before dinner? You do know cleanliness is next to Godliness?”
Hayden took another bite and then stared at her. “That’s not in the Bible. You know that, right?”
Her face heated. She thought it was, but he spoke with such authority, she wondered. Once she got back to town, she’d look that up. “Well, even if it isn’t, cleanliness never hurt anyone.” She pointed at their hands. “Look at your hands. They are nearly black.”
Bob glared and pointed his fork at her. “Missy, you have a sour attitude. Keep your bitterness to yourself. We’ve done just fine all these years without you.”
A sour attitude? What did that mean? She started to say something else when she looked at Hayden.
He shook his head.
She didn’t want to stop arguing. Not at all. But she took his quiet advice and shoved another forkful of beans into her mouth. Let them eat with dirty hands. One thing for sure, she wouldn’t let them cook until they did clean up.
The cabin door opened and blew in a gust of cold air.
Bob yelled. “Greg, you and Cole go cut some more wood. Going to be cold tonight, and we need to keep her warm.”
Penelope’s heart warmed toward the older Burkett. Nice words were rare from the man.
“Don’t want her squawking to the sheriff that we mistreated her.” Bob glared at her. “Heaven knows, she’s squawked about everything else.”
Her good feelings toward the man evaporated. Squawk. Made her think of a chicken. Is that what he thought about her? She started to question him when again Hayden shook his head.
Now that made her mad. Why did he think he had the right to tell her what to do or not even if he wasn’t speaking? She took another bite, finished her dinner, and then stood to take her plate.
Hayden took it from her. “If you’ll notice, my hands are clean. I’ll wash your plate for you.” He went to the kitchen.
She followed him. “Thank you. Sorry, I hadn’t noticed you had clean hands.”
He turned to her. “Are you about ready to go back to town now?”
“No.” She turned from him. “I need to find out why the town likes your lawbreaking family, yet, finds me, well, unlikable.”
“Pa calling your words nothing but squawking ought to give you an idea. I bet you haven’t said anything nice about one of us. We didn’t ask you to come and root us out of our hideout. Yet, you seem to take it upon yourself to tell each of us what we do wrong.”
“That’s not true.”
He shook his head. “It is. From dirty hands to scolding us about the outlaw way of life. You’ve called me ornery. Unshaven. Rebellious. And you don’t even know me.”
She stared at him. “Well, from where I am standing, all those things are true.”
“Are they? Maybe that’s your problem. You stand alone away from others and point out what you don’t like or what you deem as wrong or sinful. Maybe if you took the time to get to know us, you’d think different.”
“I doubt it.” She stormed to the kitchen door and looked out the window. Darkness had swallowed the gloomy day turning it black.
He followed her and stood behind her. “Maybe if you gave others a chance, people would give you one.”
She turned. “I didn’t realize you knew the Bible so well as to tell me, a preacher’s daughter, about what is in or not in the Good Book.”
He smiled. “My mother. She made sure to read it to us. And she talked to us about what was in it. Told us that it was what was in the heart that counted. Not the outward appearance.”
“She must have been a wise woman.”
“She was. I think you might have a different opinion of us if you’d known us before everything went bad. Before the war. Before my mother died.”
Penelope frowned. “Sorry, I hadn’t realized what your family had been through.”
“I would think your father might impress on you to give people the benefit of the doubt. Hard to know what people have been through if you don’t talk to them.”
She bristled. “I do talk to people.”
He put a finger to her lips. “There’s a difference between talking at someone and talking with them.”
She huffed. “I don’t like the way you presume and assume that you know me and the way I think.”
He shook his head. “Isn’t that what you do?”
“No. It is not.” She moved away from him. He had a terrible habit of unnerving her. She’d never doubted herself before. Hayden made her feel unsure of just about everything. “I’m tired.”
He gestured for her to go into the other room. “We fixed up the bed for you. Found enough blankets to wall you in so you’ll be warm yet have some privacy.”
“Thank you.” She stared into his eyes and for a moment lost herself. She found joy in being near him. If only. But she’d learned if onlys brought regret. More than likely, she’d wind up being married to the preacher from Chico.
Hayden held open a blanket for her. “Sleep well. Think about going back to town tomorrow.”
She passed him. Wanted to say yes, but then she looked at him and didn’t want to leave. Ever. She looked skyward and prayed that her mother’s everything-will-work-out plan could come true for her.
Rand rode along the ridge to the caves. He didn’t hold back and rode Black Jack hard. And didn’t look back. He hadn’t wanted the preacher to go along but knew there was no way he could stop him. Penelope was his daughter after all.
He reined the horse to a stop and checked the ground for prints. He’d been following three or four shod horses carrying weight. But he didn’t see the sheriff’s horse’s chipped print. The prints angled down toward the road going toward town and looked to be almost a day old.
Rand looked back and wondered if it was the gang that had held up the bank in Chico. The sheriff had gathered several men to watch the town and should be able to handle them. Rand looked at Wyler as the preacher rode beside him.
“None of these are the sheriff’s horse. Doubt it’s the Burketts. Always figured they were farther up the ridge.”
Wyler stepped down and stretched. “Thanks, I needed a break.” He looked at him. “Thanks for looking for Penelope. I know the sheriff wanted you to stay and help him out in town.”
Rand didn’t answer but studied the tracks. Old feelings pummeled him. The thrill of the chase. The sorrow of losing Susanna. The hate he held for himself.
Wyler put a hand on his shoulder. “I know how hard this is for you. Your old life. What happened to Susanna. If you ever want to talk, I’m here for you.”
Rand stood, looked into the preacher’s brown eyes, ready to blast the man. Instead, he saw the kindness in Wyler’s eyes, and Rand’s angry words stalled. Not knowing what else to do, he shrugged and mounted his horse.
“We’ll travel back up the ridge. Sorry, I got distracted following the wrong tracks.”
Wyler mounted his horse. “Lead the way. I’ll follow.”
Rand hated the soft-spoken ways of the man. Wyler’s kindness was irritating. Maybe that’s where Penelope got her reputation as a too-gooder. Without any more words, he wheeled Black Jack around and charged up the hill.
The day gave way to dusk. Rand paused in front of a small cave but decided to go on up the ridge. He found a small trail and followed it across a creek and up. He held his hand up to stop the preacher.
“Looks like there might be a cave up there. Might give us shelter for the night.”
“Good, hate to say it, but my backside is aching for a rest.”
Rand glanced back. The preacher looked done in. A pang of guilt assaulted Rand that he’d pushed the man so hard. Then again, it was Wyler’s choice to come along. He led Black Jack along the narrow trail and up the steep path. A narrow opening caught his attention.
He motioned for Wyler to stop, pulled out his gun, and walked to the entrance. It opened into a good-sized cave. Inside, he found a rusty lantern. Rand struck a match and lit up the dark cave.
Wyler followed him inside. “This is plenty big for an outlaw gang. Even has a back entrance.” He walked to the back of the cave and stooped to pick up something from the ground. “Penelope’s ribbon. I recognize it.”
Rand strode to him. “You sure.”
Wyler grinned. “Doubt any outlaws wear ribbons.”
Despite his mood, Rand grinned. “Right, but kids from town go to these caves.”
“Not this far out. They go to the ones nearer town. My boys showed me not a month ago.”
Rand went out the back entrance that opened to a small meadow. “Looks like they ran some cattle in here. Wonder why they left?”
Wyler sat on a boulder. “She was here. Where did they go?”
Rand bent and checked the ground. “The sheriff’s horse was here all right.”
The preacher fidgeted with the reins. “The Burkett’s, I don’t believe they will hurt her. They usually go out of their way to help others.”
Rubbing the back of his neck, Rand eyed the preacher. “Helping others by giving them what they’ve stolen from others. Hardly what I’d call good guys.”
Preacher Wyler’s brow furrowed with worry.
To set Wyler at ease, Rand continued. “But you’re right. They haven’t hurt anyone. I’m sure Penelope is safe.” He didn’t really. Something must have changed to get the Burketts to do something as radical as kidnap a woman.
The preacher stood and paced. “Penelope is a, well, she can be difficult.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“Sometimes, a person grabs hold of justice without grace and mercy. God sent Jesus to bring us grace while taking the judgment due us upon himself. That makes all the difference. I’ve tried to get Penelope to understand, but I fear she has taken it upon herself to be judge and executioner.”
Rand stared at him. Susanna had mentioned similar words. He had to admit, he was as likable as the preacher’s daughter. Penelope irritated him with her pointed finger and words. But his reputation sent people running from him like they ran from Penelope.
“The gang had to leave the hideout for some reason. I should be able to find their tracks tomorrow morning.”
“Looks like we have firewood to make a fire.” Wyler picked up a can. “Even left us some beans. I’ll fix us some supper.”
“I’ll unsaddle the horses.”
Wyler grinned. “I will gladly let you. I’ve found several muscles that I haven’t used in some time.”
Rand led the horses out the back. Despite his anger at God, he was beginning to like Preacher Wyler. By the time he re-entered the cave, the preacher had a fire going and beans simmering in a banged-up pan.
“Appears they stayed here for some time.” Rand kept the rest of his thoughts to himself. Something wasn’t right. Good men could go bad under the right circumstances. As a bounty hunter, he’d brought many of them in. Some riding, some draped over the saddle.
The preacher nodded.
He knew. He wasn’t saying it, but Rand could tell the preacher was hoping against hope that his daughter was safe. That the Burketts hadn’t gone outlaw. For the preacher’s sake, he hoped there was some good left in the men. That they’d taken Penelope for ransom said otherwise.
***
Penelope awoke. The room was warm. She could smell pork cooking. For a minute, she forgot where she was and relished in the feeling of being wanted. She slipped out of the worn cot and hurriedly put her clothes on.
The men had been perfect gentlemen. During the night, she’d seen Hayden’s shadow as he stood guard over her little blanketed bedroom. He was a good man. The others, she wasn’t so sure of. Although Cole was young and seemed to have kept a shell of goodness. Greg and the father were harder.
She didn’t trust them.
“Breakfast is ready.” Hayden slapped the blanket.
Penelope pulled the blanket and stood in front of him. “I’m ready.”
“Yes, I guess you are.” He stared at her. Almost as if he were in shock.
And she understood that. She couldn’t take her eyes from him. He was tall. Nice-looking. Not only handsome, but Hayden looked like a good man. Strong and sure of himself, but ready to protect her. He wasn’t hardened like his pa or Greg.
“Breakfast is ready. Cole and Pa made it.”
She followed his gesture and sat at the broken table. Two crates taking the place of table legs. The food smelled wonderful.
“Little Missy, I was thinking of sending you back to town with Hayden. We don’t want any harm to come to you.” He stopped and gave her a hard stare. “You’re surely to bring nothing but trouble to us. Been thinking we need to move on, leave Texas and start over.”
Hayden stopped eating and put his fork down. “That’s good news.”
The older Burkett nodded. “Thought you’d be pleased seeing as you’re getting what you want.” He turned his attention back to her. “I hope you understand the danger you’ve put us in. I’m sure the sheriff and your family are looking for us.”
Penelope could hardly swallow the food. He was right. She’d had no thought for the trouble she’d brought down on the Burketts. “I’m sorry. I only wanted to find out why people liked you and your family and to understand why they didn’t like me.”
Hayden took her hand in his. “Do you understand now?”
The warmth of his hand swallowed hers. “I’m trying.” She’d never felt this way before about another. Penelope wanted to stay with him. Talk to him. “Do you think I’m friendlier?”
Hayden stared at her. “Maybe.” He smiled. “I see you’re trying. You haven’t scolded us on doing something wrong this morning.” He moved a wild strand of hair from her face. “Yet.”
“And I won’t either.” She smiled at him and then at his family who were watching them.
Cole grinned. “You two look cozy. In fact, a preacher’s daughter fits you Hayden.”
His father stood. “You better get her back to town. Be sure to explain to them that we did not take her.”
Penelope held up her hand. “Please, forgive me. I will make sure they all understand that I wrote the note.” She laughed. “I wonder what they did with all that smelly money?”
Cole snickered. “Yeah, those little skunks did their job. Everyone in that bank came running out.”
Penelope grinned as the scene replayed in her mind. She shouldn’t find it so funny, but it really was. Maybe she was getting better because before she’d have pointed out what a bad deed they’d done.
She grabbed a blanket. “I’ll make sure they all know you and your sons had nothing to do with my disappearance and that I took the sheriff’s horse.”
Hayden grinned. “You ready to go?”
Cole came up to her. “Thanks for the good dinners.”
Bob and Greg mumbled their thanks.
Hayden was about to go out the door to saddle the horses when shots were fired. Penelope dove to the floor along with the Burketts.
Hayden drew his gun and peeked out the broken window.
Harsh words came in through the window. “In the cabin, we got you covered. Come out with your hands up?”
Bob put his gun down. “Do as they say, boys. I don’t want anyone hurt.” Bob opened the door and threw out his gun. The other men threw out their guns. “Don’t shoot, Sheriff.”
Bitter laughter sent chills down Penelope’s spine.
Hayden shoved her behind the blanket curtain and told her to get on the bed and under the blankets. “Don’t make a sound.”
She raised up. “Isn’t it the sheriff?”
Hayden shook his head. “No.”
Penelope ducked under the blanket and prayed that she and all the Burketts would be safe.
Hayden stood in front of Penelope’s makeshift room.
With guns drawn, three men charged through the door. The leader waited while the other two picked up the guns and shoved the Burketts toward the back wall.
“Thanks for the fire. We need a place to stay. If you do as we say, no one will get hurt.”
Hayden glanced at his brothers and Pa.
“Smells like food. You have any more? We’d be obliged to let you live if you cook us up a meal.” The leader sneered at them, evil in his voice.
Pa nodded. “We can. Go on Cole, make them some beans and bacon.”
Cole went to the stove and started the beans.
“That’s right neighborly. We need to hide out for a few days, and then we can move on. Picked up a strongbox from Duston. Nice of them to have the money all bundled up for us.”
Hayden caught Greg’s look.
“Wes, go out and get the strongbox.”
The one by the door went outside and came back and tossed the box on the table. “Box smells all perfumy, Ray.”
The third man pushed Hayden aside and tore the blanket from the rope. He looked at the bed and then went to Penelope and prodded her with his gun. “Get up, you. And get over there with the others.”
Penelope stood.
“It’s a woman, Wes.” He sneered. “We might have some fun tonight.”
Hayden grabbed Penelope and shoved her behind him. “Leave my wife alone.”
Wes strode to him and pulled Penelope from behind him. “She’s pretty.” He shoved her toward the stove. “Go help the other one cook.”
With fear in her eyes, Penelope looked back.
Hayden nodded. He wanted to rush to her and protect her with his life, but right now, it was best they did as they were told.
Wes pushed Hayden back against the wall. “It’d be best for your wife if you stay right here and keep quiet.” He put the barrel of his pistol under Hayden’s jaw. “Just stay real quiet.”
Pa edged away from the wall. “Don’t hurt the girl. We’ll do as you say. Won’t tell no one you were here.”
“That’s nice of you. Now, get back against that wall. In fact, all of you sit down, backs against the wall.”
Hayden glanced at his pa and did as Wes said. Hayden watched Penelope, praying that God would protect her.
After Penelope cooked the meal, Wes waved the pistol at Cole and had them get to the wall with the others.
Ray ate his lunch. “You’re a good cook. Maybe we ought to take her with us, Wes. I been missing a woman-cooked meal. What do you think we take her with us?”
Wes chewed on a bit of food and stared at Penelope. “Might be a good idea.”
Hayden stood. “You can’t take her.”
Wes pointed his gun at him. “We can do what we want. You just sit down, so I don’t have to kill you.”
Penelope banged a spoon against the pan. “You will not take me anywhere, and you will not kill anyone! You should have washed your hands before you ate.”
Startled, Wes looked at her and pointed his fork her way. “You be quiet. Women should cook and do what their men say. If not, I’ll have to teach you a lesson.” He sneered at her. “Maybe we’ll all teach you.”
Penelope darted her gaze to Hayden.
He motioned for her to come to him.
Penelope eased away from the three outlaws and ran to Hayden. He held her and whispered to her to stay with him and keep quiet.
Ray stood and belched. “Let’s count the money.”
Wes leaned back in his chair. “Go ahead. I figure after this haul we can beat it for Mexico, and then rest a while.” He gazed at Penelope. “Take missy with us, and she can cook for us.”
Hayden held her tight. “I won’t let them.”
Wes yelled at him. “Quiet. I don’t want to hear anything from you.” He waved Penelope over. “Come here, girl. You look smart and can help us open the box and count the money.”
She stared at Hayden and then darted a look to Cole. Then she walked to the table. “I can count.”
Ray shot off the lock and opened the box.
Wes took out the money. As he did, the skunk odor took over the room.
Penelope covered her face and ran to Hayden.
Ray slammed the lid shut. “What is that?”
Wes coughed. “Skunk. Who would spray their money with skunk.” He jumped up and opened the door.
“Get that box out of here.” Two of the outlaws carried the box out.
Wes kicked the table and faced them. “I ought to shoot the lot of you.”
Bob stood. “We didn’t do it.”
Hayden put Penelope behind him. He had to protect her. He would die for her. And he’d die before he let these men take her.
***
Rand pushed the horses hard and the preacher even harder. He knew the sheriff’s horse went this way. But somewhere after the road, more hoofprints joined in. Either the Burketts had other friends, or that outlaw gang had been to town and now were looking for shelter.
Either way, he feared for Penelope, and for him and the preacher. Rand stopped at the edge of the creek. He didn’t relish the idea of crossing. It was cold, and the water would be colder. But he knew all the tracks went across.
The preacher caught up to him. “I’m freezing and have the awful feeling we’re crossing that stream.”
“That’s right.” Rand didn’t let on about the other group of horse prints.
“I hope Penelope has shelter.”
“I’m believing the Burketts knew of a cabin on the other side. Seems I remember seeing one.” Rand had a bad feeling about what they were going to find. He settled himself and prayed that the Lord would watch over the girl. Then he glanced at the preacher.
The man was praying. Head bowed and hands folded.
Rand’s heart softened. The man was worried about his daughter. Fearful for her. But believing the Lord would watch out for her. Maybe if Rand had prayed before he’d gone after that outlaw—
“Rand, I want to thank you for taking me along. I believe the Lord has His hand on Penelope and us.”
“He tell you all that?” Rand’s bitter words escaped before he could stop them.
Daniel Wyler smiled. “I guess in some way, yes, the Lord told me just that. I’m ready whenever you are.”
Rand didn’t wait but kicked Black Jack and plunged into the icy waters. The cold seized his breath for a minute, but he didn’t stop and didn’t warn the preacher. Why hadn’t God protected Susanna? That’s what Rand wanted to know. He couldn’t help but believe he was at fault, and there was no comfort in that fact.
He reached the other side and looked back. The preacher was coming. His face looked shocked from the cold, but he didn’t stop.
Finally, Daniel reached the banks, and his horse charged up the side. He glanced at Rand. “I know how hard this is for you. I want you to know I’m praying that you’ll find peace.”
“Peace! There is no peace.” Rand urged his horse on, turning his back on the preacher. He loped up a hill but slowed. The cabin he was thinking of wasn’t that far off. Rand eyed the horizon and spotted smoke. They were close.
He waited in a stand of trees for the preacher to catch up.
Daniel rode to him, concern in his eyes. “Think we’re close?”
Rand pointed. “Smoke. There’s a cabin up ahead. I figure that’s where they are.”
The preacher smiled. “I can’t wait to get my daughter back.”
Irritated, yet knowing the Burketts weren’t the only ones they were likely to find, Rand caught the bridle to the preacher’s horse and stopped him. “I think there’s more than one gang in that cabin. We’ve been following two sets of tracks.”
Daniel sniffed the air. “You think it’s the outlaws. Think they attacked the town. I can smell skunk.”
Rand smelled it now. “Could be they took the strongbox of skunked money.”
Daniel pulled out the rifle, checked to see it was loaded, and draped the gun over his saddle. “What’s the plan?”
Rand liked Daniel in that moment. That he was worried was obvious, but he’d storm into the cabin with him. “We’ll ride carefully on this side of the road until we can see the cabin. We’ll leave the horses and go on foot until we know what we’re up against.”
“I’ll follow your lead.”
Rand nodded and rode beside the trail in the bushes and trees. His blood was hot, on the trail. Anticipating a fight. Like old times. He did miss the thrill. He was good at it. The chase a part of him. As if it was what he was made for. But this time to save Penelope.
As he rode on, a peace did come. Soft and unbidden, yet he felt it. As if a warm blanket covered him. The anger left. The irritation and frustration subsided. To replace it, a focus. His senses aware and his intent to save the girl.
He glanced back. Daniel looked cold but determined. And Rand could see that same peace covered him.
Maybe it was the preacher’s prayers. Maybe his own. But Rand knew it was from the Lord. God was real. And by the feeling in his heart, God didn’t hate him or hold him responsible for Susanna’s death.
By the time he reached the bend where the cabin was, Rand felt freedom from the past. Gone was the guilt. The self-hate. The wish to die. Instead, he wanted to live.
Rand dismounted. He didn’t see anyone outside but saw eight horses tied under the shed. “The outlaws are in there. It looks like the strongbox is outside.”
Daniel stood next him, rifle ready. “They must have found out it was truly, dirty money.” He grinned.
Rand nodded. “Would have liked to have seen that.” He moved behind several large shrubs and motioned for Daniel to follow him. “Stay here and cover me.”
Daniel nodded.
“I’m going to run around the back. Think you’ll be all right?”
“I’ll watch the front. Rand, don’t—”
Anger flashed through Rand. “I’ll make sure Penelope doesn’t get hurt. Trust me.”
Daniel shook his head. “I was going to say don’t take any unnecessary chances. It’s going to work out.”
“Sorry.” Rand stayed in the bushes and ran for the side of the cabin. Keeping low, he darted for cover and ran to the back. No doors, but there was a window. He ducked down and crawled to the window.
Carefully, he looked in. He could see three men at the table. Penelope in the kitchen. Then to the back, he saw the Burketts. He needed to get Penelope with the Burketts. He crept along the wall and stepped to the side. He waved for the preacher.
Daniel waved back.
Rand pointed to his gun and gestured for Daniel to shoot his gun in the air.
Daniel nodded, and shots rang out.
Rand watched the porch from the side.
One of the outlaws ran outside gun drawn and looking around.
Rand shot him in the leg, rushed him and kicked the gun from his hand. Then pulled him to the other side of the porch. Grabbing handcuffs from his back pocket, he cuffed the outlaw and stuffed a handkerchief in his mouth.
Daniel fired more shots.
Rand braced himself and stood on the side of the porch waiting for another outlaw to come out.
Penelope heard the shots, glanced at the outlaws, and threw the coffee pot at Wes as she ran for the back wall.
Hayden stood and grabbed her, shoving her behind him.
Ray and Wes stood, guns drawn and moving toward the front door. The other man had run outside, and more shots signaled someone out there had been shot. When he didn’t come back in, she figured whoever was outside had shot the outlaw.
“Give yourselves up.” She recognized Rand’s voice.
Wes glared at her. “We’ve got hostages. A girl. Back away or you’ll get them killed.”
“Let them go.”
“They’re my ticket out. Get back.” Wes fired his gun out the door. He turned and yelled at Ray. “Get the girl.” And he turned back to the door and fired again.
Gun drawn, Ray came toward her.
Penelope shouted, “No!”
Hayden and the other Burketts crowded together blocking Ray from taking her.
“You want to die for her?”
Cole swung a chair at Ray while Greg leaped on him.
Hayden shoved her into the makeshift bedroom and under the bed.
Wes ran toward them and fired.
Bob Burkett grabbed his arm and slumped to the floor.
Wes grabbed Hayden and put the gun to his head. “Get out here girl.”
Penelope scooted out from under the bed. “Don’t hurt him.”
Shoving Hayden from him, Wes grabbed her. “Let Ray go.”
Cole and Greg stepped away, letting Ray get up.
A shot rang out, and Ray fell. Rand charged inside and ran toward Wes, sliding into him and separating him from Penelope. Rand stood, pulled Penelope behind him and aimed his gun at Wes.
Wes and Rand shot at the same time. Both men fell at Penelope’s feet. Rand held his side. Wes put a hand to his leg and aimed his gun at her.
Penelope grabbed Ray’s gun and aimed it at Wes.
“Drop your gun.”
Wes stared at her. “You don’t have the guts to shoot me, girlie.”
Hayden kicked the gun out of his hand just as Daniel ran into the cabin.
“Penelope, are you, all right?”
“Yes, But Rand, he stepped in front of me. Help him, Father.” She ran to her father and pulled him to Rand.
Rand sat up. “I’m all right. Just a nick. Maybe hit a rib.” He leaned against the wall.
Hayden went to Penelope and held her. “I was so worried about you.”
She looked up at him and saw the same look that Billy Ray had for Ellie. “You were?” She smiled and snuggled close to him.
Hayden pointed outside. “The skunked money is outside. We better get to town and check on the sheriff.”
Bob Burkett nodded. “We better go so Penelope can explain about the note and the sheriff’s horse.”
Penelope blushed. “Yes, sir. I’ll tell them everything.”
Her father looked at her. “Penelope, what have you done?”
“Oh, Father.”
Hayden held her close. “She found me, Mr. Wyler. She brought life to me. Purpose. And if you and your wife agree,” He looked at Penelope and smiled. “And she agrees, I’d like to court her.”
Penelope’s knees grew weak. Hayden Burkett. She couldn’t believe it. “I sure do agree.”
He tapped her nose. “That is if you don’t remind me to wash my hands and talk down to me.”
Looking up at him, she smiled. “I don’t see how I could do that.”
Mr. Burkett came over to them. “Congratulations. About time a Burkett got married. About time the rest of us joined civilization. Made amends. We’ll all be going into town.”
Penelope’s father pulled some rope from his pocket. “We better tie up the outlaws. It’s going to be dark soon and too cold to leave tonight. Penelope, why don’t you see what you can cook for us.”
“Yes, Father.” She squeezed Hayden’s hand and left him.
Hayden helped her father.
Penelope found more beans and sliced ham that the Burketts had brought along. She then worked to make enough biscuits. Kneading the flour, she watched her father tend to Rand, and the wounded outlaws. They’d been lucky.
She scolded herself. Not lucky. Blessed. She knew that the Lord had watched over her. Penelope finally felt the things-will-work-out idea that her mother always preached. She glanced at Hayden. God had really blessed her with that man.
Penelope thought about Preacher Carl from Chico and felt a twinge of sorrow over the way she’d treated the man. He wasn’t a bad sort. She prayed a quick prayer that he would find a woman who would appreciate and love him.
Then she looked at the Burketts and prayed that the Lord would work out a way for them. That they could start over and become part of the town. And Hayden. She sighed. She truly liked him maybe love. That he asked to court her made her heart sing. Someone finally liked her.
She shook her head. No more pointing her finger at others. She was done being the too-gooder of Duston. She was going to like others. Look for their good points and not their faults. How many times had mother and father told her that?
She turned the ham and laughed to herself. All it took was for a couple of outlaw gangs to teach her about seeing others in a good light. She whispered a hurried prayer of thanks that the Lord hadn’t given up on her.
She brought the dinner to the table. “Food’s ready.” She dished out a plate for the outlaws and one for Rand.
She and Hayden gave the food to the outlaws, but she took the one to Rand. She owed him an apology and her life. She handed the plate to him. “Thank you for finding me and saving me.”
He looked at her. He had a light in his eyes that she’d not seen before. He took the plate and smiled at her. “Maybe looking for you, saved me.”
“I guess you were with Father for some time. He’s a persuasive man.”
Rand nodded. “Words I’d heard from many finally made their way to my heart. I think I can finally let Susanna go. Know that I’m forgiven. That I can live.”
“I’m happy for you.”
He looked at her and grinned. “I’m happy for you, too. Go and live a good life with Hayden. He’s a good man.”
She looked at her man. “Yes, I think so, too.” She went to Hayden and sat beside him. “Thank you for liking me.”
He looked at her and tucked a strand of wild hair behind her ear. “I never dreamed I would find someone who took over my heart. But you have. I can’t think of living a day without you by my side.” He took her hand in his. “I hope you don’t require a long courtship.”
Her heart fluttered. “I don’t think it will be too long.” As she said the words, her heart leaped and joy lit her in warmth. No, it wouldn’t be long. Her doubts were fluttering away driven out by joy and love. Yes, she believed she did love that man.
He did fit her requirements. Tall, dark, and kind. She could see it in his eyes. He’d take care of her. Love her. And she purposed in her heart to make him happy.
Father put his arms around her. “Penelope, I hope you’ve learned a valuable lesson. You gave your mother and me quite a scare.”
“I’m sorry Father. But I’m glad. I would have never met Hayden.”
“God does work in mysterious ways.” He smiled and hugged her.
“I hope you won’t hold it against me that I didn’t like Pastor Weatherly from Chico.”
He laughed. “No, that was more your mother’s doing. She didn’t like to see you so alone and took it upon herself to make sure you had someone. Don’t worry about Carl. He’s a focused man. He’ll find someone to marry.”
***
Hayden stood guard through most of the night. He didn’t mind as it gave him time to think about Penelope and what he needed to do. He couldn’t marry her until he had something to give her.
He pondered on how quickly he’d fallen for her. At first, she angered him, but she’d caught his attention. Now, he couldn’t imagine leaving her. He wasn’t sure what his family was going to do.
Pa had talked about throwing themselves on the mercy of the sheriff and town. They’d done wrong, and he knew it. That he was willing to change gave Hayden hope for them. Hayden laughed to himself about the skunked money. Cole and Greg would have to answer for that one on their own.
The sun was just rising when she came and sat next to him. “Hayden, we can make something together. I’m a hard worker.”
He patted her hand. “I have a little money in the bank. I want to start a ranch.”
“We can work together to earn the money. I know we can.”
With a playful tug on her hair, he nodded. “Yes, we can. How are Rand and the others?”
“Fine. The bleeding stopped. The sun is out so it should warm up.” She frowned. “Do you think the sheriff will be mad about his horse?”
Hayden shook his head. “I don’t think he’ll hang you, being the preacher’s daughter and all.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “Do you think I’ll go to jail for long?”
He couldn’t resist her and smiled. “I’m sure we can work out a deal. I’d hate to have to court you in jail, but if I have to, it’s what I’ll do.”
She nodded. “What have I done? I have made a mess out of so many people’s lives.”
Hayden put a hand under her chin and tilted her head up to look at him. “I would have to say the Lord is working many things out to good. I’ve spent all my life looking for you. Now that I found you, nothing is going to come between us.”
Rand stood. “I think the sooner we go the better. Get the money back to the bank.” He looked at her with a wry grin. “And the sheriff’s horse back to him.” He winced when he bent to pick up his gun and strap it on. “Let’s go. Cole, you and Greg saddle the horses.”
The preacher went to his daughter and took her aside, leaving Hayden to watch the prisoners.
His father walked to him. “I’m kind of glad that gal came to our cave and got this all started. I’m sorry for some of the hard things I said to you. You were right. I wasn’t the kind of father that Greg and Cole needed. Thanks, son.”
Hayden shook his father’s hand. “We’ll all be starting a new life. I have money to buy a start on a ranch. Could use you and Cole and Greg to help out if you want.”
His father looked at Penelope. “I don’t know. Seems like you two will be starting out on your own. Kind of reminds me of your mother and me. I think I’d rather give you and her a chance to get to know one another. Me and your brothers will find something to do.”
“All right. But the offer stands. Family is important.”
Rand went to the door and then called out. “Let’s go. Horses are ready. Greg and Cole, if you’d take the reins to one of the outlaws. I’ll take Wes. If they move wrong, shoot them.” He glanced at the preacher. “In the arm.”
Smiling, Rand went outside and mounted his horse.
Hayden helped Penelope onto her horse.
The preacher rode up beside them. “I think I’ll help Rand with his prisoner. His side has to hurt him some. See that you get my daughter safely back to town.”
Hayden grinned. “You can be sure of it.” He led the way and made sure Penelope followed him.
Penelope rode back to town as if she were in a dream. Finally, God had worked things out to good for her with Hayden. She’d left Duston with no thought of having a man to love and come home with a man so wonderful that she could not have imagined him.
She glanced at her beau. Just the idea felt good saying. He was a good man through and through. Cared for his family. Took care of her. She sighed. She was so blessed. Perhaps that was what had been missing in her life to make her so high and mighty. She’d not recognized how blessed she’d been her entire life.
As they rode down the main street of Duston, she looked at the people. Those she’d known for years but never really cared about. Now, as she looked at them, she saw them as real people to be cared for. Not pointed at to show their flaws. Somehow, her entire outlook had changed.
The first stop was her home. Mama came running out and as soon as she dismounted Penelope was enveloped in a big hug by her mother followed by all of her siblings. Love warmed her heart, and she felt it go out to each of her brothers and sisters.
Angela whispered in her ear. “What happened because you look different?” Angela glanced at Hayden and then back at her. “Is he what happened?”
Penelope nodded just as Hayden came to her side. “Mrs. Wyler, I’ve already asked Preacher Wyler, but may I have permission to court your daughter, Penelope?”
Mother gasped. “Why yes. Hayden Burkett? Is that you? I haven’t seen you in years.”
“Yes, ma’am. It’s been a long time.”
“It was right before you went to war. The dreadful thing. We’d just moved here to Duston. Your mother was such a delightful woman. I was so sorry at her passing.” Mother tenderly touched Hayden’s shoulder. “We did what we could for her.”
“Yes, Ma’am. Thank you.”
Mother hugged Hayden and then grabbed Penelope in her arms. “I am so happy for you. The both of you.” Mother smiled them. “I told you things would work out for good.”
Penelope grinned. “Yes, Mama. They sure did.”
Hayden tapped her on the shoulder. “We better go and see the sheriff gets his horse back.”
“Bye Mama. We’ll be back when we can.” Penelope’s smile slipped some as she wondered what Sheriff Grady Harper would do to her for borrowing his horse. Hayden didn’t look too worried. She braced herself and took on Mama’s words. Things would work out.
***
Rand and the Burketts ushered the outlaws back to town. As they rode down the street, people came out to look and point. Almost like the old days when he towed back men wanted for awful crimes.
He straightened his shoulders. Sometimes the people had been as angry at him as the outlaws. Rand never understood that. As a bounty hunter, he could go past jurisdictions and catch the criminals where sheriffs were bound with limits. Well, he didn’t apologize back then, and he wasn’t about to start now.
“Let’s get them in jail first. I’ll take the lockbox.” Rand took the box from the back of Ray’s horse and set it by the post. “Cole, go to the general store and get another lock and chain for this box.”
“Yes, sir.” Cole galloped his horse to the store.
Rand nodded to the rest of the Burketts. “Help me get them in jail.” Rand noticed Grady hadn’t come out. Something was wrong. He opened the door and saw Grady laying on his cot, his shoulder bandaged.
Grady struggled to sit. “Rand, good to see you. Those outlaws came all right. Took the money. Shot up the town. No one was killed thank the Lord.”
Rand put a hand up. “Stay put. We caught them.” He called back outside the door. “Bring them in.”
Grady relaxed. “Good job. Did you get the money?”
With a grin, Rand nodded. “The stinking money is back in its box, and I sent Cole to get a chain and lock.”
“You got the Burketts, too.”
Rand glanced at Bob. “No, they came in on their own. Want to make things right. Without them, we’d have never caught the outlaws.
Concern wrinkled Grady’s brow. “The girl?”
“She’s fine. She should be here any minute to tell you all about it.”
Grady nodded. “Good. I’ve been praying for her. I don’t like it when my people are endangered.” He stared at Rand. “You, everything all right? You look different. Something about your eyes.”
Rand half-grinned. “Maybe sending that preacher along with me, like you didn’t know, had some influence on me. Maybe it was his prayers, but whatever it was, I’ve got a peace I haven’t known in a long time.”
“I’m glad Rand. Real glad.” Grady winced. “I do have a favor to ask.” He grinned. “Now, that you’ve joined civilization again, I need someone to look after the town until I get better. Doc said maybe a month.”
Bob Burkett put a hand on Rand’s shoulder. “Looks like the Good Lord is a working on all of us. Take it, son. You’re a good man.”
Rand looked at Bob and saw another man who was changing his life for the better. Rand nodded. “I’ll look after the town that is if they’ll have me.”
Grady nodded. “They will. Give them a chance. This is a good town with good people. And same for you Burketts. The people always liked you. No more shenanigans though. I think the bank will forgive your sons the skunk caper because I don’t think we’d have gotten that money back if it hadn’t stunk so bad.”
Rand laughed. “You got that right. If there’s a reward for those outlaws, I think it should be split between the Burketts and the preacher. I don’t need any money.”
“That’s generous, Rand.” Grady grimaced at his wound. “But I will do just as you say. Maybe it will be enough to get you and your boys a start on a ranch.”
Bob Burkett looked near tears. “You think that would be possible?”
“I think so.” Grady pointed to his desk. “Flyers are on my desk. We’ll send them in, and you should get the money within the month.”
More footsteps signaled new arrivals. Rand looked and saw Hayden, the preacher, and Penelope.
Penelope pushed her way between her father and Hayden. “Sheriff, I have to confess. I added to the Burkett’s note about kidnapping and ransom. They had nothing to do with it. All of that was my fault. And I took your horse.”
Grady pushed himself up and looked at her sternly. “Well, young lady. I can forgive you, but the law and justice have to be met. I’d say a month of cleaning the jail and bringing food to my prisoners ought to pay for your crimes.”
Penelope put her hands together. “No jail time? You won’t hang me?”
“Not this time. Next time you do such a thing, maybe.” He laughed and then winced.
Rand ushered the crowd out of the jail. “As acting deputy, I’m clearing the room so the sheriff can get back to his duties sooner than later.”
“Rand, put that deputy badge on. I want the folks to know who you are.” Grady winked.
Reluctantly, Rand fished through the top drawer and pulled out a badge. He shined it on his jacket and then pinned it on his shirt. “How’s that look?”
Grady smiled. “Like it belongs there. I know you like your roses, but really Rand, a man like you belongs behind a badge not a shovel.”
“Maybe you’re right, Grady. I’ll be back as soon as I take care of the horses.” Rand left the sheriff.
Outside, the preacher shook his hand. “Am I going to see you in church Sunday?”
Rand looked at him. Saw nothing but acceptance and kindness. “Maybe.”
“That’s good enough for me. If you want to talk, I’m always available to you, Rand. You know, the Lord equips us with different gifts. You’re a warrior for good, Rand. A protector of the faithful. I’ve always seen that in you. I’ll look for you Sunday.”
“Thanks Preacher Wyler. I might just surprise you.”
With a smile, the preacher left.
Somehow, Rand believed that preacher already knew he’d see him at church Sunday.
Penelope could hardly wait for dinner to be over. Hayden sat across the table from her, smiling at her with such a tender look that she could just melt. She’d never felt this way. Never. And she loved every minute of it.
Father excused them from the table.
She bolted up and met Hayden in the parlor. “It’s a nice night for a walk.”
He looked at her. “It’s freezing. Might even snow.”
“We have coats and gloves.”
He pulled a hat from the peg by the door. “And hats. Just for a little. I don’t want you to get sick.”
“Lead the way.”
Taking her hand and placing it in the crook of his elbow, Hayden walked her into the yard. “Where to?”
It was bitterly cold. “Let’s keep walking. We might freeze if we stop.”
He laughed. “Penelope these last three months have been wonderful. I hate to leave you at night.” He led her to the bench under the tree, wiped off the leaves and debris, and sat down, pulling her beside him.
“I love you, Hayden. Truly love you more than I thought possible, and yet, I believe when we marry, I’ll find a whole new adventure in learning to love you more.”
He put a finger to her lips. Hayden stood, took her hand in his, and knelt. “Penelope, I love you more than life. More than the sun has light, or the oceans have water. Will you marry me?”
Snow began to fall. Large fluffy flakes that muted all the sound around them. She gazed into his eyes. “Yes. I want to love you as long as we both shall live.”
He kissed her. So tenderly. So full of love that Penelope thought she might never come back.
Hayden wiped snow from her face. “The reward came in for my family and your father. I’ll have enough to pay off that ranch I bought. The cabin is about done. I’d say in two weeks. Would you marry me then?”
“I’d marry you tonight.”
He laughed. “You would. But I know your mother wants a proper wedding for you, and your father wants to preside over it. I can’t wait, darling.”
She leaned against him. “I never dreamed I could be so happy. It was like all the love and joy was reserved for others. I was wrong. I am so happy.”
“You’ve come a long way Penelope.”
She sighed. “With you, I am always home and belong.”
“Let’s tell your parents.”
She laughed. “I’ll race you inside.” She took off at a run.
Hayden yelled after her. “I love you. You’re not getting away from me.”
In seconds, he had her and pulled her down to the ground. With snow all around them, they kissed again. She looked up into the sky and the falling snow. “Thank you, Lord. You do work all things to good.”
Penelope finished sweeping the floor. Texas dust somehow made its way into her cabin even with the windows and door shut. She’d been married two months now, and not a day went by where she wasn’t completely happy and in love with her husband.
Tonight, they’d invited his family over. The Burketts had a ranch and were working hard to make it a success. Most of the people in Duston had forgiven them and even chipped in to help them build a cabin.
The only one still not too happy with the Burketts was the banker. He complained that on a muggy day the building still smelled like skunk. They were all working hard, and with their ranches next to each other, they put their herd together.
Rand was still a deputy. Seems the growing town needed him, and the people respected and liked him. Rand had lost his surly attitude and several ladies of Duston turned their heads when he walked by. Penelope figured that maybe it wouldn’t be too long, and Rand might take that walk down the aisle of the church.
She grinned. Rand was a regular at church now. Grace Whitson was also smiling more. Seems with this spring, more and more people were coming alive.
As for herself, well, Penelope was so full of love she didn’t have time or the inclination to point her fingers in judgment anymore. In fact, Penelope now had more friends than she could count.
She looked over her ranch and at her husband fixing a fence. Tonight, she’d tell him. She was sure now. The doc had said the baby would come some time in December. She rubbed her stomach.
She couldn’t imagine the love they felt could grow any stronger, but somehow, she knew it would grow every day. She was loved, well-loved, and she loved well.
Author’s Note: Thank you for reading Penelope. I hope you enjoyed the story. She was a fun character to write. Although, she made me think about myself and how I look at others. I never know what those characters are going to do or say. I love to write stories and hope you enjoy them as well.
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