Stained Snow (26 page)

“Ma.” He lifted his hand to her, but it dropped again since he lacked the strength to hold it up.

She grabbed it and brought it to her face. “I’m sorry, Will,” she said again. “I loved Anna and David, and I couldn’t let myself believe he’d do that. It hurt you, and I’m sorry for that, too.”

She glanced toward the doorway, but it remained empty. Her gaze came back to his face. “I like her too, Will. I haven’t had much time with her, but she seems to be a good girl. I know she fell for Thomas’ charms, but she loves you. I’ve seen it.”

He recognized Maggie’s steps coming down the hallway, and he smiled. “I love her, too, Ma.”

She brushed a hand over his forehead. “I can see that. I loved your pa as much as I do Patrick. Sometimes you can find that twice. I’m glad you have.”

“Me too, Ma,” he said as Maggie stepped into the doorway. Her smile chased the shadows from his mind. He couldn’t wait until he gained enough strength to show her how much he loved her again.

#

October 2, 1888

William’d had enough. He needed to get out of this bed, get back on his own two feet. He’d been up with some help from George or Patrick. He needed to do it on his own.

He listened for a moment, but as he’d gained more strength back, his caretakers stopped spending every minute by his side. He should have at least a few minutes before one of them came in to check on him. He pushed himself up in the bed, grimacing at the pain shooting through his shoulder and down through his chest and side. He wasn’t going to let that stop him. Laying in bed wasn’t going to help him get past this.

He held on to the post of the bed as he got his feet under him. His legs threatened to fold at the pain, but he kept them straight and took one step. The room spun around him and he was glad to still have a grip on the post. Once the room settled again, he took another step, releasing the bed post as he went. This time the floor shifted under him.

His body lurched forward and only a hand against the wall kept him from falling. He should have gotten back into bed but wasn’t ready to give up yet. With one hand on the wall, he put one foot in front of the other until he reached the door. He continued down the hall, still using the wall for support. When he reached the end, his mother and Maggie sat together at the table.

His eyes moistened as he looked on. He could almost think he was back home, and his Ma had come to visit with Anna. He wasn’t home, and Anna wasn’t sitting there. It was Maggie. He didn’t feel the pain he thought he would. Maggie healed something in him.

He lifted his arm to wipe away the wetness running over. The motion must have caught the attention of the women. They both turned their heads toward him. Maggie moved first.

“You shouldn’t be up,” she scolded him. “You need to rest.”

He shook his head but leaned on her when she offered an arm to lead him to the table. He sank onto the bench when he reached it. The walk out here had taken more from him than he expected. He wouldn’t admit that. “I had to,” he finally said to Maggie. “I can’t just lay in there. I need to do something.”

His mother reached across the table and laid her hand over his. “You have to do nothing, William, except to rest and get better so you can take care of this family of yours.” Her gaze slid away from him. “I wish we could have come for the wedding.”

The guilt weighed down on his shoulders with those few words. “I know, Ma. I’m sorry. It happened quick. We didn’t figure you’d be able to make it here in time. I didn’t think you’d want to.”

Her gaze came back to him. “Of course, I would have wanted to be there. You’re my son.”

They’d already been over this. No reason to rehash it. “Ma, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything.”

“I’m sorry for ever making you think it. And for so much more. I’m so sorry, Will.”

He shook his head and pushed away the bitterness that had always lived in a corner of his heart. “It’s not your fault, Ma. There was something wrong in him. It’s over. He’s gone. I…I’m sorry, Ma. I tried to bring him in. He wouldn’t come. I had to.”

“You didn’t kill him.” Maggie’s voice came from beside him. “I did.”

He jerked his head around at her. He’d been awake for three weeks now, but that had been something they didn’t talk about. “What do you mean?”

She ducked her head then snapped it back up, her eyes blazing as they bored into his. “He was going to kill you. You wouldn’t have been able to stop him. I did.”

His mind spun. He hadn’t remembered shooting Thomas. He never would have thought Maggie would do it. Not only because of her history with him, but because Adam was supposed to get her away from there, keep her safe. “Where’s Adam?” He didn’t remember seeing him since he woke up.

“He’s been around, but don’t worry about him. He tried to get me away from that clearing. I couldn’t let him kill you. I took his gun and ran back. I thought you were dead, Will. I would have killed him so many times over if he had taken you from me.”

He couldn’t help it. Despite everything, a smile twitched over his face. “Just once, Maggie. Once is enough.”

His mother turned her head toward the door, and a smile spread across her face. “Your pa is coming back.”

It wasn’t until a moment later he heard the footsteps and realized how weak he was. He normally would have been the first to hear them. He tensed up. How would he protect himself or his family when he couldn’t even hear someone coming soon enough? Then, he relaxed. There was no danger now. He didn’t need to be on alert. Thomas was gone. They were safe.

Surprise flashed over his stepfather’s face when he stepped into the house with George beside him. Adam stopped in the doorway. He started to turn back around, but George stopped him with a hand on his arm.

Patrick stepped over to him. “What are you doing out of bed, Will? You’re not strong enough yet.”

“He walked out here by himself,” Sarah told her husband. “Maybe he’s stronger than we thought.”

Patrick looked between them then he nodded. He sank down on the bench beside William. “I was going to wait longer before we told you, but maybe your ma is right.”

Something twisted inside of him. What was it? What else could have happened? Thomas couldn’t have taken anything more from him. He sat there in silence waiting for his stepfather to say more.

Patrick cleared his throat before he spoke again. “After you rode off, I took a couple men and went out to your ranch. We hoped to find something to salvage from the ashes.”

“There was nothing. He took everything.”

Maggie reached out and took his hand. He turned his own over and squeezed hers but didn’t take his eyes off his stepfather.

“You’re right. There was nothing left there. Nothing that could be saved. We rebuilt.”

“What do you mean? You rebuilt what?”

“Your house. I didn’t have any trouble getting people to come out and help me. We had to wait until the snow melted, but it only took a few weeks. You have a place to return to now.”

William couldn’t process it all. He had ridden away, but Patrick rebuilt his home. George found out where he lived and notified his parents, his only family, told them he was still alive. They had come. “Why?”

“Because you’re our son. We wanted your home to be ready for you when you came back. We didn’t know, of course, but…Well, we hoped. We hoped you would come riding back. It’s ready. It will be there when you’re well enough to travel. You can come home.”

William wasn’t sure what to say. He could go home. He could take his wife to his home. They could raise their child, and any more they had, there. It would mean taking his wife away from her own father, her own home. The home they had started to make together. He looked back up at the man he’d always considered his father. “I have a home here, Pa.”

He wasn’t surprised by the disappointment in Patrick’s face. He only wished he hadn’t been the one to put it there. “I understand, Will. We’ll miss seeing you. I’m glad to know you’re well, at least.”

He forced a smile across his face. “I’ll make sure to keep in touch, but my life is here.” He looked over at Maggie, and the smile came easier. There was no choice to make.

Patrick nodded. “We’ll need to be getting back soon. I’m sure James has taken care of everything, but I need to get back.”

The smile dropped from his face. “When?”

“Another day or two. It’ll take a few days to get back. I don’t want to put it off for too long.”

“I’ll ride with you,” Adam spoke up from where he still stood in the doorway. When several heads turned his way, he shrugged. “My mother’s people are up that way. It’s been years since I’ve been back.”

Understanding dawned for William. It was hard for Adam to see them together. Now, he’d found the best excuse to jump on. He didn’t say anything as Maggie stood and walked over to him. “I’ll miss you,” she murmured, “but, I hope you find your happiness, too.” She moved back over to William. He nodded at the other man. Adam returned the gesture before turning and walking back outside. They understood each other.

“Come on, Will,” Maggie said. “You should get back to bed. You need your rest.”

He let her pull him up from the table. She was right. He was tired. If he wanted to be able to give her the life she deserved with him, he needed to get his strength back.

Epilogue

Barnes Ranch, Colorado

March 29, 1889

William stepped out of the barn and looked up toward the house. It had finally warmed up and Maggie had the windows and door open, letting the house air out after a long winter. A smile spread across his face, and he headed up that way. He still walked with a limp. He accepted that wasn’t going to go away. His chest had ached through most of the winter, but he’d been able to work. He’d been able to sleep with Maggie again. He’d been there when she gave birth to their child.

Warmth spread through him. He couldn’t believe he’d ever thought to ride away from it all. He couldn’t think of anywhere more important than being beside her. They still had dinner with her pa in the main house, even though they made their home in their own cabin.

He stepped inside and breathed in the aroma of beef and cooking vegetables over the fire. She had a bundle in one arm, bouncing it as she stirred the stew in the pot. William’s smile grew wider as he moved over to Maggie. “Let me have her,” he murmured.

Maggie smiled gratefully and handed the infant over. William pulled the blanket away from the baby’s face and looked at her for a minute. She made a cooing sound, a few bubbles blowing past her lips.

Almost two years ago he’d been happy with his wife and son on his own ranch. When he’d lost them, he never thought he’d have happiness again. Here it was, though, staring him right in the face.

He’d lost everything to his brother less than two years ago. Now everything that mattered to him was right here. He couldn’t shake the thought it had to be a dream. He feared he would wake up one day, and it would all be gone again. Every morning he woke up and found Maggie still sleeping beside him, their daughter in the cradle beside their bed, he had to convince himself he wasn’t still dreaming.

“Pa brought a letter when he came back from town this morning,” she said, as she turned from the fireplace.

“He said something about that. Where is it?”

She pulled it out of her apron. “I held onto it for you.”

He shifted the baby in his arms and took the envelope from her before leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead. He pulled the letter out, scanning the date, almost three weeks ago, and the first lines. “Ma sends her love. She says she’ll be down for a visit as soon as the trails clear.”

Maggie laughed. “I know. I read it.”

He scanned a few more lines then stopped and read the last one again. “Adam’s working at the ranch?”

Maggie nodded. “We got another letter from him, too. His people didn’t accept him, so he didn’t stay for too long. Patrick was perfectly willing to give him a job at his ranch.”

“Good. I hope he finds his place. I thought maybe he’d come back sometime, though.”

She moved over to him and wrapped her arms around him. “Maybe he will. You can read the letter if you’d like.”

“Later.” He held onto her for another moment. “Right now I’m happy with my girls. Right where I am.” The baby cooed, and his smile widened even more. “Even Anna agrees it’s the right place to be.”

Maggie laughed and shifted so she could kiss him. She jumped back as the scent of burning stew reached both of them.

Now, William laughed and nuzzled his daughter’s cheek. If this was a dream, no matter how messy it could be, he hoped he would never wake up from it.

Read on for an excerpt from Stained by Ashes, coming Spring/Summer 2016

Leah sat in the corner of the wagon as her father picked up the reins and started the team out of the yard. The hot sun beat down on her, and she was sure her curls would be wilting by the time they reached town even with the hat she wore. She wouldn’t complain though. She could have stayed in the coolness of the house, but then she’d have felt even more of a prisoner. She was getting what she wanted.

The trip was spent mostly in silence. Her father and oldest brother murmured between them. She only caught snatches of the conversation, as they talked about this meeting and the coming battle with the homesteaders. She didn’t understand why it even had to come to that. There was plenty of land out there. Didn’t they have plenty to spare? What was a few acres? She thought of their neighbors to the southwest. She liked going out to visit them, even though her father would have a fit if he knew. They weren’t enemies, she couldn’t see the young family like that, but she couldn’t make her father see it.