27

They were nearly halfway back to Cedar Springs when William halted the horses for a rest. Sunshine had warmed the day and the earlier clouds had drifted to the north, leaving a gloriously clear blue sky. The children were more than happy to get out of the wagon and play for a time near the full, wide creek. Thankfully, they seemed completely unharmed by the earlier trauma. Hannah was glad the children had been with the judge instead of on the street to see Lockhart pull a gun on William and hoped that they would forget all that they’d overheard through the hotel door. It was bad enough that they knew their father had been murdered.

Hannah felt awkward as William helped her from the wagon. They hadn’t exchanged much conversation since the sheriff had taken Lockhart away, despite William declaring they needed to do just that. Now Hannah wasn’t at all sure what to say or do. Thank you hardly seemed enough, and there was still the matter of the treasure.

William attended the horses, then approached Hannah as she contemplated Lockhart’s actions. She wanted to believe the law would see justice done to Lockhart. But even so, it wouldn’t take away the fact that he’d thoroughly wronged her family. No amount of punishment could bring her father back to life.

“Walk with me?” William asked.

She nodded and they set out a short distance to a rocky ledge that overlooked the creek. When William began to talk about the war, Hannah found herself engrossed in his recollection.

“We were positioned across a line of Confederate soldiers who were intent on keeping us from advancing into Vicksburg. We tried to spread out in order to cover more territory, and I had taken up a place near a stand of trees. I heard a noise in the brush and knew it was a Rebel soldier. I took aim from a standing position and was ready to fire for the first time in that battle.” He fell silent as they reached the ledge.

Hannah didn’t want to interrupt his thoughts, so she waited for him to continue. When he did, she could hear the pain in his voice.

“When the soldier came out of the brush I was just about to squeeze the trigger when I realized he was just a boy. He couldn’t have been more than thirteen. I held the gun on him for a moment and when he saw me . . . well, there was a look on his face that I’d seen before. It was a sort of recognition that death had come to him. I lowered my gun. I couldn’t kill a child—not for my country—not for my father.”

William looked away for a moment. “I told him to go home. I told him he was too young to lose his life, and I was old enough to know it was wrong to take it. I turned and walked away, and that was when someone fired and hit me in the leg.” He looked at her and shrugged. “I don’t remember much after that. I lost a lot of blood and very nearly lost my leg.”

“He shot you after you showed him mercy?” Hannah asked in disbelief.

“I don’t know who shot me. It might have been the boy or someone else. It really doesn’t matter. I knew I didn’t want to be a part of this war anymore.”

Seeing his eyes glisten with unshed tears, Hannah reached out to take hold of his hand. She felt her breath catch as he tightened his fingers over hers.

“I don’t know why,” he said softly, “but I wanted you to know.”

“I’m glad you told me,” she said.

“Did you really mean it when you said you’d already forgiven me?”

Hannah nodded. “I know that this may sound strange to you, but when I watched your compassion for the Numunuu . . . well . . . I began to see you differently. The war seemed far away then, and even though I knew you had been a part of the attack on Vicksburg, my heart changed.”

He turned and gazed into her eyes. Hannah didn’t mind his thorough study. She took the opportunity to return the favor. She reached up to push back his thick brown hair and smiled.

“I’ve wanted to do that for a very long time.”

“I won’t tell you what I’ve wanted to do,” he said with a grin.

Her eyes widened. “Why, Mr. Barnett, I thought you to be a gentleman.”

His expression turned mischievous. “I am—that’s why I’m not telling you.”

She laughed and let go his hand, only to have William recapture it. “Don’t go. I think we need to settle a couple of things.”

“Such as?” she said, her curiosity more than a little stirred.

“Your brother and sister seem to think that you’re in love with me.” He drew her hand to his chest. “Andy says you said as much to Herbert Lockhart.”

“I suppose . . . I did.” She glanced away in embarrassment.

“Don’t you figure that’s tellin’ the wrong man?” he teased.

“You weren’t around to tell,” she finally answered. “Not only that, but I wasn’t sure you’d want to hear me say such a thing.”

He put his finger under her chin and guided her eyes back to his. His voice was soft and low. “I’ve been waiting to hear that for all of my life.”

“But you haven’t known me all of your life,” she countered.

William kissed her fingers. “I feel like I have.”

Hannah shivered from the sudden rush of emotions crashing over her. She thought she might very well faint from the intensity of the moment, but just then Andy and Marty came running.

“Are you gonna kiss her?” Andy asked.

William looked at him and then to Marty. “Do you think I should?”

“Did you ask her to marry you?” Andy questioned, looking quite serious.

“No, I haven’t yet done that.”

Hannah wanted to giggle at the scene as Andy shook his head. “I don’t reckon you should kiss until you get married.”

Marty nodded. “Yeah, it’s kind of better that way.”

Hannah looked at her sister and shook her head. “Why in the world would you say that, Martha Dandridge?”

She answered nonchalantly, “’Cause if he doesn’t like kissin’ you, then you’ll already be married and he won’t be able to leave.”

William roared with laughter. “She makes a very good point. I believe I’ll wait until after we’re married.”

Putting her hands on her hips, Hannah turned back to him. “Well, I don’t remember being asked.”

Andy nudged William. “You’d better ask her.”

William gave the boy a sober nod. “How do you suppose I should go about it?”

Hannah raised a brow, but otherwise forced her expression to be void of emotion.

“You gotta promise her that you’ll work hard for her,” Andy said. “And that you’ll always do nice things for her.”

“Like bring her flowers,” Marty added.

“And sometimes you have to read to her. My pa said that our mama liked it when he read to her.”

Hannah smiled at this. She hadn’t known their father to be overly sentimental with his stories, but clearly he had shared this memory with his son.

“I think I can do all of that,” William said, giving Hannah a wink.

“Then I suppose you should just ask her to marry you,” Andy said. “Hannah doesn’t like folks to talk around things. She’s always sayin’ that.”

“He’s right, you know,” Hannah said. “I prefer people just be honest and forthright with me.” She turned to gaze into William’s eyes.

“I prefer that, too,” he told her. Taking hold of her hand, he grinned. “Marry me?”

Hannah nodded. “I believe I will.”

William looked to Andy and Marty. “Are you sure I have to wait to kiss her until after we’re married?”

The children gave a quick nod and William let go his hold on Hannah. “Then I reckon we’d better get married tomorrow, ’cause I want to kiss her right away.”

They reached Cedar Springs in the early afternoon. Hannah had hoped they could marry and head right out to the ranch, but talk ran high about recent trouble with the Comanche.

“It ain’t safe out there,” Nelson Pritchard declared. “Two fellas from over Denton way were scalped as they were makin’ their way to Dallas. A third fella was able to get away and tell what happened. He said there must have been over seventy Injuns. Even the Terrys came in from the ranch. Your people, too.”

“Where are they staying?” William questioned.

“Livery for the Mexicans and hotel for the Terrys.”

William looked at Hannah and frowned. “If they came in there must have been a grave threat.”

“But we saw Night Bear just before going in to Dallas. He told me we’d be safe.”

“You conversed with the Comanche?” Nels asked in disbelief.

“Hannah’s a friend to them,” Andy said proudly.

“She’s a fool then.” Pritchard all but spat the words.

“You take that back. You can’t call my sister a fool,” Andy said, moving forward.

William put his hand out to stop the boy. “You would do well to watch what you say, Pritchard.” He turned to Hannah. “Guess we need to go find the others and invite them to our wedding.”

Hannah felt her face warm. “That’s fine by me,” she told him.

Mr. Pritchard looked surprised. “You two are getting married?”

Andy spoke up before anyone else could. “He asked Hannah just a little while ago.”

“But they didn’t kiss,” Marty added. “They gotta get married first.”

A sly grin spread across William’s face as he turned back to Pritchard. “So you see, we need to talk to the preacher.”

Nelson looked confused. “But I thought Miss Dandridge was marrying Mr. Lockhart. That’s what he’s told everybody.”

“He told them wrong,” Hannah interjected. “I have no romantic interest in Mr. Lockhart.”

“He killed our pa,” Marty declared.

Pritchard shook his head and waggled a finger at Hannah. “You’d do well to teach her about lying.”

“She isn’t lying,” Hannah replied. “She’s telling the truth, and Mr. Lockhart is in jail awaiting trial for the murder of our father.”

“But . . . how could that be?” The storekeeper looked to William and then again to Hannah, his expression one of disbelief.

“The details are unimportant at the moment,” William said. “What matters is that he can no longer harm this family.”

“It’s more important that Will and Hannah get married,” Andy stated in an authoritative manner.

William smiled. “The boy is absolutely right. That’s far more important.”

“I knew your pa to be a good Southerner, Miss Dandridge. Mr. Barnett. . . .” Mr. Pritchard momentarily fell silent. He looked uncomfortable as he continued. “Mr. Barnett fought for the Yankees. Your pa wouldn’t approve of this marriage.”

“I believe my father would completely approve,” Hannah said, turning her smile on William. “Especially given that William has just returned from risking his life to smuggle cattle to the Confederacy,” Hannah declared. “He cares more about feeding the hungry than fighting, Mr. Pritchard. He’s a hero for the betterment of mankind.”

“You were a part of getting food to the troops?” Pritchard asked, looking to William.

Hannah could see that William wasn’t exactly comfortable with the question. She gave him a reassuring smile and he nodded. Hannah turned back to Mr. Pritchard. “So you see, Mr. Barnett’s heart is in helping people whether from the North or the South. He and some of his Confederate soldier friends drove cattle into Louisiana. He’s just now returned.”

Mr. Pritchard looked at William oddly. “But you and your family were Yankees.”

“We were Texans first and foremost. I still am. I never wanted to go to war for either side,” William answered honestly. “I think we could have better resolved things in a peaceful manner.”

Pritchard considered this for a moment. “But your pa—”

“My pa is dead. My brother, too. This war has taken everything from me that I intend to give. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to speak with the preacher.”

They walked from the store in silence, the children trailing behind them. Hannah couldn’t help but wonder what they were going to do about the ranch and the raiding Indians.

“You sure got quiet all of a sudden. You haven’t changed your mind, have you?” William asked, escorting her toward the hotel.

“Changed my mind?” Hannah asked, shaking her head. “About what?”

He laughed. “About marrying me.”

“Hardly. I’ve got plans for you, Mr. Barnett.”

This made William pause in his steps and eye her seriously. He leaned close and whispered, “And I have plans for you, Miss Dandridge.”

His low husky voice sent a delicious shiver through Hannah’s body. Words caught in her throat and left her unable to speak. It didn’t matter, however. She knew he understood.