Mistletoe Mayhem: Clean Historical Western Cowboy Romance Novel (Dawson Chronicles Book 1) (20 page)

              “It’s not.  I promise.  He was just as in the dark as you were until I filled him in,” Joey said.  “Don’t do anything stupid, ok?”

              Devon said, “I won’t.  I think there’ve been enough people doing stupid things.”

              She glared at him before going back inside.  Sighing regretfully, Joey looked up at the star-sprinkled sky and sat on a chaise lounge as Randall came outside.

              “What did you do now, Master Joey?”

              “Why do you always assume it’s my fault?” Joey asked.

              Randall smiled.  “Because you can’t help yourself.”

              “I was trying to help and it did, but only for a little while and now it’s worse,” Joey said.

              Randall sighed and sat down on another chaise, wrapping his coat around him.  Even in cold weather, the family congregated on the veranda.  “Please start at the beginning.”

              Joey smiled.  “I remember sitting on your lap when I was sad when I was little.”

              “Well, you’re not sitting on my lap now.  You’ll break my poor, old legs.  You were such a sweet boy until you turned eleven and turned into your father.”

              That made Joey laugh.  “You’ve mentioned that before.  All right, well, here’s what happened …”

Nineteen

              “… and so that’s what happened,” Sawyer said, sitting on the front porch swing with Frankie.  “I really messed up and I doubt she’s gonna forgive me.  I know how this looks and if I was in her place, I’d feel the same way.”  He felt the swing shake and looked at Frankie.  “This isn’t funny, Mama.”

              Frankie said, “No, it’s not.  You’re right.  But any time Skip and Joey are involved in something it never turns out right.  I didn’t know that Renee is a little schemer.”

              Despite his heartache, Sawyer saw the humor in the situation and he laughed a little.  “I don’t know what to do.  I want to talk to her, but maybe it’s too soon.  But I don’t want to let it fester, either.  What would you do?”

              “Well, you’re going to have to be completely sincere from now on—and determined.  Wait until tomorrow to talk to her.  Be honest about what happened.  That’s what matters most to women.  Admit your mistakes and learn from them,” Frankie said.

              Sawyer nodded as Skip rode up to the house on his draft mule, Dash.  The bay john (male) mule was a cross between one of Joe’s Percheron mares and an amorous, wily jack donkey from a neighboring farm that had sneaked into the pasture with the beautiful mare.  Joe hadn’t been happy about the union.

              Switch had bought the mule when he’d seen the cute little foal.  Dash had been Skip’s fifteenth birthday present and Skip loved him.  Dash was docile, smart, and strong enough to pull a car by himself, which he’d done whenever Sawyer’s Model T had broken down.

              “Hi,” Skip said.  “Joey told me what happened.  I’m sorry.  It’s my fault.  I shouldn’t have stuck my nose in your business.  I just wanted to help.”

              Sawyer said, “No, it’s my fault for not stopping it.  I let my pride get in the way.  You can get down, Skip.”  He knew that his friend was unsure if he was welcome to stay.

              Frankie chuckled again.  “Skip, your heart was in the right place.”

              Skip sat on the porch railing across from the swing.  “I feel terrible.  I’m going to stay out of relationships from now on.”

              Dash came halfway up onto the porch, wanting to be a part of the conversation.  The seventeen-hand mule was too big to get further than that, but it was close enough to satisfy him.  When Skip would have scolded him, Frankie said to leave him be.

              Sawyer remembered D.J. saying how stubborn Frankie had been in sticking with D.J. even though he’d kept pushing her away.  His own stubborn nature rose.  “Skip, I’m glad you interfered.  It might have hit a snag, but your plan did work.  I’ll work through it.  I love Devon and I’m not giving up.  I’m taking a page out of your book, Mama.”

              She patted his back.  “That’s my boy.  Don’t take no for an answer.”

              “I won’t.  Skip, let’s go to camp,” Sawyer said.  “I feel like playing some knuckles.”

              “Ok.  I’m glad you’re not mad at me.”

              “Nope.  I’ll see you later on, Mama,” Sawyer said, kissing her cheek.

              “All right.  Skip, don’t be getting him in any more trouble,” Frankie said.

              Skip also kissed her cheek.  “I won’t.  I promise.”

              Frankie smiled as both of them mounted Dash and took off at a trot for the camp.  The big mule was easily able to carry both of them.  Frankie heard them laugh as they rode along and thought that although he was younger that Skip was the perfect friend for her serious son; he made Sawyer laugh even in serious situations and he was utterly loyal. 

              She prayed for Devon’s heart to be softened enough to listen to Sawyer.  She’d always liked Devon and had been looking forward to her being a daughter-in-law someday.  She hoped that day would come to pass.

*****

              Joe walked along the street, heading for the bank.

              “There he is!  Get him!”

              Joe looked around to see who was shouting and was surprised when a large group of horsemen rode towards him.  He recognized Len and a prickle of apprehension ran up his spine.  This feeling intensified when several guns were pointed at him.

              “Hold it right there, Dwyer,” Len said.

              Joe put his hands on his hip.  “What can I do for you, Len?”

              “Come with us peacefully,” Len said.

              “Why?  I ain’t done nothing wrong.”

              A malicious smile curved Len’s mouth.  “That’s not what I hear.”

              “Look, I’m busy and I don’t have time for this nonsense, so if you don’t mind, I’ll be on my way,” Joe responded.

              “Oh, I do mind.  You went to a horse auction over in Wolf Point a few days ago,” Len said.

              “That’s right.  Last I checked, that isn’t a crime.”

              “No, it’s not.  What
is
a crime is criticizing our government,” Len said.

              “What are you talkin’ about?  I didn’t say anything bad about the government.” 
Did I?  I don’t think so.

              “Ken, refresh the mayor’s memory,” Len ordered another man, who moved closer.

              It was the man Joe and Joey had talked to that day.  He gave Joe an apologetic look.  “You said that it was about time that the war was over so our boys could come home where they belonged and that we shouldn’t have gone in the first place.”

              Joe said, “That’s not what I said, Ken.  I said I was glad the war was over and that it was a shame that we had to get involved in order for the Germans to be beaten.  I didn’t blame the government in any way.  It’s ok, Ken.  It’s an honest mistake.”

              “That’s not how I heard it,” said another man with a bristly, brown mustache and blue eyes.  “It was just like Ken said it.”

              “Who the hell are you?” Joe asked.  “You weren’t there.”

              “I was sitting in back of you,” the man said.

              Joe couldn’t swear that he hadn’t been.  “That’s nice, but you’re mistaken, too.”

              “We’re taking you before the Defense Council,” Len said.

              His heart beating in double time, Joe fought to keep a level head.  He thought about his family and Dawson.  He had to stay calm if he was going to do what was best for them.

              “Ok, but I’m not guilty.  These two are lying,” Joe said.  “I’ll come peacefully, but I need to let my deputy mayor know what’s happening so she can tell my family and get me a lawyer.  Come with me to the town hall.” 

              Len wasn’t used to people being so calm about being hauled in.  “Fine, but don’t try anything funny.”

              “Like what?  There’s all of you and only one of me,” Joe said.

              “Is everything all right here, Joe?”

              It was Seth, who eyed the posse with disdain in his blue eyes.  The tall man wasn’t afraid to face danger or come to the aid of a friend, and he didn’t like the looks of the men Joe was talking with.

              Joe said, “Well, I’m being taken in for sedition even though the charges are false.”

              Seth’s eyes widened, but he took his cue from Joe’s unruffled demeanor.  “Oh, is that all?”

              “Yeah.  Will you do me a favor?” Joe asked.

              “You name it,” Seth said.

              “Let Cassie and my family know,” Joe said.  “Hey, Len, where are you taking me?”

              “Right here for now,” Len said.

              Joe raised an eyebrow.  “You’re putting me in
our
jail?”

              Len nodded.  “That’s right.  The courts are backlogged.  We’ll get you to Butte next week.”

              Joe looked at Seth with humor in his wide eyes and Seth had a hard time keeping a straight face.  “Tell Cassie and my family that I’ll be right up the street here.”

              “Ok.  I’ll go right away,” Seth said.

              “Much obliged,” Joe said.  “Ok, Len.  Take me away.”

              Len smirked.  “You think this is all a joke, huh?”

              Joe said, “No, sir.  I know you’re serious, but so am I.  This won’t stick.  Let’s go so I can get to work on my defense.”

              He crossed the street and headed up the next street which led to the sheriff’s office.  The group rode behind him and Len dismounted at the building and grabbed Joe’s arm.

              Joe gave him a hard look.  “You better get your hands off me or else they’ll be adding murder to these fake charges.  We’re right here, and I ain’t runnin’.”

              Len released him and Joe opened the door, going inside. 

              “Hey, Mitch,” Joe said.  “Got a free cell?”

              Mitch, a big, muscular man with blond hair and brown eyes stood by the cook stove pouring coffee into a mug.  “Sure, Joe.”  He narrowed his eyes at Len, whom he hated.  He’d had quite a few dealings with the detestable man.

              “Good.  I need one.  Len’s brought me in for sedition.  Can you believe that?” Joe asked.

              Mitch snorted.  “No.  You’re one of the most patriotic people I know.”

              Len said, “Of course you’d say that.  You’re one of his cronies and you’re in bed with him.”

              Mitch took a sip of coffee.  “Funny, the only one in my bed with me is my wife.  I’ve never seen Joe there, thank God.  No offense, Joe.”

              “None taken,” Joe said.

              Len’s face turned pink.  “Just put him in the cell.  If you don’t comply, I’ll put you in a cell, too, Taylor.”

              Mitch took the cell keys from off their nail that hung behind his desk.  “Simmer down, Len.  C’mon, Joe.”

              Joe followed Mitch back to the cell area and went quietly into a cell.  After Mitch locked the cell, Len said, “Two of my men will stay here to make sure that there’s no funny business.”

              Mitch said, “That’s not necessary.”

              “I say it is,” Len countered.  “I’ll be back for him next Monday.”

              “That’s right before Christmas!” Joe said.  The thought of spending Christmas in Butte without his family because of this nonsense made Joe’s blood boil.  “You’re a despicable jackass, locking people up for nothing!”

              Len smiled cruelly.  “We have witnesses who say otherwise, Mr. Mayor.  You won’t be mayor for long, though.”

              It was a good thing that Joe was behind bars or he would have thrashed Len, who walked away laughing.  This was Len’s way of getting back at him for bringing Thor’s anger down on the Loyalty Council.  Joe controlled his fury so he didn’t give Len the satisfaction of any more outbursts.  Sighing, he sat down on his bunk and began working on his legal strategy.

*****

              Devon rode her horse down Main Street and heard her name called by a familiar voice.  She closed her eyes, hoping that he would go away.  He didn’t.

              “Devon,” Sawyer said, walking quickly over to her.  “How’s your pa?”

              Devon couldn’t stop her smile.  “The same as ever.  He’s turned the sheriff’s office into a combination of town hall and the Watering Hole.”  His warm brown eyes held sympathy, but she couldn’t let it get to her.  “I have to go.”

              Sawyer said, “I’m sure you’re busy, but Devon, can we please talk tonight?  I need to explain things to you.”