Marta stood in the center of the front room of the foreman’s cabin. She’d come with Grace to clean the place. She’d offered when Grace asked for some cleaning supplies and a bucket. It seemed that Fuzzy was as much a slob as Marta’s new husband was. “I’m so sorry the place looks like this. If I’d known you were coming with your husband, I’d have cleaned it.”

Grace laughed. “Don’t worry about it, Marta. This is nothing. You should see what our stable manager’s place looks like. I don’t think Sandy Bob has ever cleaned that place as long as I’ve known him. Why, my friend Maryanne and I tried to clean it once and gave up. We figured if it didn’t bother Sandy Bob, maybe it shouldn’t bother us.”

Marta laughed along with the red-haired woman. “Do you do this often? Travel with your husband when he goes to do marshal assignments?”

Grace shook her head. “No. Honestly, this is only the second time I’ve ever gone with him when he felt a calling to go somewhere.”

Marta’s forehead wrinkled. “A calling? What’s that?”

Grace stopped and turned to look Marta in the eye. “My husband gets these feelings that he and his family believe are from God. They are never wrong and they always send him somewhere that his special skills are needed. His grandfather, Nugget Nate, used to get them, too. About a week and a half ago, he got one that he needed to bring some ranch hands and come to visit Royce. Only this time he was adamant that I needed to come along. So tell me, Marta, why did God send me to you?”

Marta burst into sobs. Just this morning she had been wishing God would send her a married woman she could talk to, one who might be able to help her understand why an angel told her to marry a man who couldn’t, or wouldn’t, love her. Now here was Grace Ryder asking her why God would give her husband a message sending her to Marta.

Grace was suddenly wrapping her arms around her. “My goodness, honey, it was a simple question. I didn’t think it would cause that kind of a response.”

Once she got her crying under control, Marta pulled back. “You don’t understand. I needed someone I could talk to about all this, but I would never have told anyone my whole story until you just told me what you did.”

Now it was Grace who looked confused. She pointed to the small table indicating Marta should sit. “Well, I’m here; tell me what I can do.”

Marta and Grace sat. “I don’t know. I just know I need advice, and I had no one who I thought could understand. You see I never intended to get married.”

The whole story poured out of Marta. How she was left on the orphanage doorstep and no one ever seemed to want to adopt her. How she never had a beau or caught the eye of any man. How she had become a nanny and when that position ended, she’d answered an ad for a nanny position in California. She went on to tell about being abducted and thrown in the root cellar. How she and Julianne had finally escaped, and the fight with Dougal that caused his death. Then she told about the letter from the family in California and the strange woman who claimed to be an angel who told her to go to the mercantile and then to marry Royce Clark. When she was done, she sat there watching as Grace thought about the whole thing.

“That sounds like God has a plan for you, Marta. Why would that upset you?”

“Because my husband doesn’t want a wife; he wants a housekeeper and nanny. He gave me his name and I thought I was getting my prayers answered with a husband who would come to love me, or at least want me, and a family that would be mine. Instead, my husband doesn’t want to be alone with me. He has no desire even to kiss me, let alone the things you hear a husband wants. The children call me by my name and made it plain from the moment I married that I’m not their ma and never will be. I don’t understand why even God thinks I don’t deserve love. What’s wrong with me?” She burst into tears again.

Grace sat there looking at her. “Well, that is a lot. You’ve been through a lot in the last few weeks, haven’t you? Tell me, Marta, how long ago were you thrown in that root cellar by this Dougal fellow?”

"Just over two months ago.”

“So before Lucy Clark died.”

“I believe so.”

“So God used the actions of a couple of evil men to make sure that you were here on the one day when Royce Clark was so overwhelmed by trying to be a rancher and take care of his family after his wife's death, and you think God isn’t a loving God?”

“I didn’t say God isn’t loving; I said He doesn’t think I deserve love. I’m in a marriage and family that don’t love me. They may never love me.”

Grace shook her head. “That’s not true. I’ve only been here a few hours and I can tell you those kids adore you. Okay, so they don’t call you Ma or anything but your name, but they want to be with you. I watched those two boys; they think you are wonderful. They loved the food and the little games you had them play to do their chores. Then there’s Rachel; she copies everything you do. I watched her. She wants to be just like you. That’s love, my dear. The love of a child for a mother. Look at those two little ones. Why, they cling to you just like mine have clung to me since the day they were born. God didn’t put you into a place without love. This is all new for them. Remember they are still mourning their mother's death. Give them time.

"As for Royce, honey, that man is so twitterpated it isn’t funny. He may not realize it himself yet, but he has feelings for you. As a matter of fact, I think he does know it. I think what he feels for you makes him feel guilty. His first love is barely gone and already he can’t take his eyes off his new wife. A wife he didn’t expect to feel anything more than gratitude for.”

Marta shook her head. “He doesn’t, he won’t even kiss me. When I force it he kisses me like he would a child.”

Grace smiled. “Marta, that's because he’s afraid to kiss you the way he feels. I would wager he thinks he’s being disloyal to Lucy by even thinking about wanting you the way he does. I saw him and so did Nathan. When you’re in the room, he can’t take his eyes off you. Honey, you just need to be patient. That angel didn’t get it wrong and God is going to give you that loving family. It’s just going to take a bit of time.”

“Do you think?”

“I know, Marta. Tell you what, let's talk a bit about how you can turn the heat up on Royce and see if we can’t get him to at least act on those feelings he’s trying not to have.”

“What do you mean?”

Grace smiled at her. “I mean, Mrs. Clark, I’m going to teach you how to seduce your husband. When we're done, that man won’t be able to deny his desires.”

Royce looked around the church in Creede. It had been closed since the last Reverend had angered the miners by always preaching against whiskey and loose women. They’d threatened to hang him right here in the church and he’d up and took the next train out of town. Now the only time it was opened was when they needed a place where a lot of people could meet. He’d sent word and gotten Reverend Bing to come and open it for the ranchers in the community so that they could tell Nathan what was going on. He looked around at the men and woman sitting in the church. Waylon was here, as was his mother. Most of the ranchers had shown up, and they all had the same question; what was Marshal Ryder going to do about the men who were destroying their ranches and stealing their livestock?

Royce stepped to the front of the crowd. He’d left Marta at home with Grace Ryder and the children. However, he knew that another reason several of his neighbors had come was to see his new wife. They could see her at roundup if they came to help or at church Sunday in Bachelor if they were there. Today he wanted to focus on getting Nathan the information he needed and make some plans to start catching the rustlers. “Thank you all for coming out on such short notice. I know we are all having the same issues. Our cattle are getting stolen. Some of you have had men run off and fires set. We all believe we know who is behind it but there isn’t any proof.

“Most of you, like me, have asked Black Jack to look into it and were told the same thing. It’s not his job. Well, I sent a telegram to a U.S. Marshal, and he’s here today to look into it for us. This is Marshal Nathan Ryder. Most of you know about his reputation as The Preacher even if you haven’t met him before.”

Royce motioned to Nathan who stood and walked up front. “Gentlemen, as I understand it, each of you has been affected by this menace. I came and brought a deputy. I also brought eight men; they can help anyone whose ranch hands either left or are laid up. Just let me know. I’ll personally come to each of your ranches to see the damage done. All I ask is if you have cattle rustled, you send someone out to the Circle C to get me. I’d like to be in on as many tracking parties as I can. I promise you I won’t stop until we stop these rustlers, and if they are linked to this man trying to buy your ranches, I’ll see them all in jail or hung for their crimes.”

“What if we don’t catch ‘em, Marshal? We know you have your own ranch and territory in New Mexico. How long you willing to stay?”

Nathan nodded. “You’re right, partner. I can’t stay indefinitely; I do have to get back to my own territory and my own ranch. I’ll make you this promise. If by the end of August we ain't ended all this, I’ll make sure you have a Marshal here who will stay as long as you need him. I don’t just mean to catch the rustlers, but to make sure that the law is being upheld in this area. I’ve already sent a telegram to the U. S. Marshal headquarters asking for a Marshal to be permanently assigned to this area. They’ve yet to deny me any such request. I aim to see justice brought to the area. You have my word on that.”

The sound of boots on the church’s steps turned everyone's head. Everyone watched as Jasper White walked through the open doors. “Your word, you say? I got just one question then, Preacher."

Royce watched as Nathan’s eyes narrowed. “What’s that?”

“Whose justice are you talking about? I mean, what you think is just probably ain’t the same as what I see as just."

"You a citizen of this community?”

"Me? Nah.” The gun hand shook his head and smirked. “I work for the man offering to make this rustling problem not these men’s problem anymore. Heck, he’ll buy every single one of your ranches; you know that. Then you won’t have to worry about rustlers or hands that get busted up or leave. You won’t have to worry about waking up to find your house or barn on fire or your family dead.” The gunslinger held his hands out like he was blessing everyone. “I don’t see why you don’t all take him up on his offer and let the Marshal go back to his ranch where he belongs.”

“What’s your name, cowboy?”

Jasper’s eyes hardened “I ain't no cow puncher, Preacher. My name is Jasper White, but most people just call me Ghost. I reckon you’ve heard of me.”

Nathan smiled, but it was obvious it didn’t reach his eyes. “Yeah, I’ve heard of you. I heard you’re the type of low life who violates women and shoots children for money. The worst kind of low life there is. Least, that’s what I’ve heard.”

Jasper laughed. “That’s funny. I heard you were a yellow belly who tries to talk his way out of every gun battle. But you’re wearing that badge so that can’t be true, can it? Only difference between you and me, Preacher, is I own up to my profession while you try to hide what you are behind a badge and a Bible. If you want to own up to what you are, I’ll meet you in the street anytime you say.”

Nathan walked up to the gunslinger and looked him in the eye from a foot away. “Let me say this where everyone can hear, and you can see the sincerity in my eyes, Ghost. If I find you’re involved in any of the rustling or attacks on these good people, you’ll wish I’d met you in the street. I’ll see ya hung from the tallest tree we can find in this here town.”

“I ain't worried, Preacher. I don’t think you could find an egg in a hen house.” Jasper looked past Nathan to Royce. “Where’s the wife, Clark? I wanted to give the bride a kiss.”

The man laughed and turned and walked out of the church building calling over his shoulder. “When you men are ready to sell, you let Mr. Thrilway know. He’ll be waiting.”

It wasn’t long after that when the meeting ended and several of the ranchers came up and shook both Nathan and Royce’s hands. Finally, most of them were gone and it was just Royce, Waylon and his mother, Reverend Bing, and a young man dressed like an eastern preacher. The young man approached Reverend Bing. “Reverend Bing, I wondered if I could speak to you about getting the key to this house of God.”

Callum Bing motioned to the young man. “Eugene, have you met Nathan Ryder? He’s a U. S. Marshal and also a Reverend in New Mexico. Nathan, let me introduce Reverend Eugene Theodore. Eugene, are you sure you want to reopen this church? I thought you were going back home.”

The young Reverend shook his head. “I’ve spent the past few weeks walking around this community. There is so much need for a man willing to stand and preach the consequences for the rampant sin of the people of this community. I’m sure I’m supposed to be that man.”

Nathan cleared his throat. “Son, my grandfather used to have a saying that you should take into account if you're going to try and become the shepherd of this town.”

“What is that, sir?”

“You’re apt to catch more flies with honey than vinegar.”

Royce almost laughed at the look of confusion on Reverend Theodore’s face. “I don’t see how that applies in this situation.”

Callum tried to say it a different way. “What Reverend Ryder is trying to tell you, Eugene, is that you’ll bring more souls to Christ with compassion instead of condemnation.”

The young man shook his head. “You gentlemen have become too complacent with the sin of the people here in the west. They need to be told that what they are doing is sin and that God will punish it.”

Royce spoke up, hoping to keep this young hot head from getting himself killed. “Has anyone told you why this church was closed, Reverend Theodore?”

“No, I don’t believe they have.”

“It was closed because the last few preachers who’ve tried to preach here did just what you are suggesting. They tore into the sins of the community, mainly the amount of saloons and soiled doves in town. The first one got beat half to death and moved back east. The second one the miners threatened to hang right here in the church. He, too, left town. If you take the same stance they did, you might end up dead.”

“Well, I would count it an honor to die in the cause of Christ.”

The older ministers looked at each other. Then Callum handed the key over to him. “If I can help you in any way or give you any counsel or advice as you go along, Eugene, don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll be praying for you.”

The younger man nodded once and thanked Reverend Bing before he walked to the back to look at the parsonage attached to the church. Once he was gone, Nathan let out a deep sigh. “That boy’s in for a hard lesson, I’m afraid.”

“Yes, but sometimes all you can do is let them learn them. Just like a child,” Mrs. Morgan stated.

The men just nodded as they all headed for the door. Even though none of them said anything, Royce knew, like himself, they all agreed with Mrs. Morgan.

Nathan Ryder looked at Royce as they were riding back to the Circle C after the meeting with the ranchers. Nathan could tell that Royce was deep in thought and looked conflicted by whatever he was thinking. “God, how can I help my friend? I know you brought me here for more than catching rustlers.” As always when Nathan prayed and listened, that still small voice that directed his life whispered in his mind. He rode closer to Royce. “So tell me how you ended up married to Marta.”

"Not much to tell, really. You already know she was one of the women snatched from the street by Archie and his pal Dougal. She’d been on her way to California to be a nanny. When she didn’t show up, they made other arrangements, leaving her stuck in Creede.”

Nathan looked over at Royce. “She couldn’t go home to her family?”

Royce shook his head. “She was an orphan, spent her whole life until she turned eighteen in an orphanage. Then she went to work as a nanny. From what I understand, she’s never really had anyone she can call family. The way she talked about her work, I don’t think she had any friends, either.”

“That’s rough. Everyone should have someone to care about them.”

“Yeah, I agree. Anyway, Lucy had been gone about two months and I was doing my best to take care of things at the ranch and the kids. However, to be honest, Nathan, I wasn’t doing well. I knew I wasn’t going to make it much longer the way things were. The kids were running around in dirty clothes. I could barely feed them. We were all getting tired of beans and bacon sandwiches. The boys tried to help as much as they could but none of them knew how to care for young’uns, either. I’d come into town to get the formula for Raeann and some more beans, some things for Cookie, and a few loaves of bread. Anyway, I was in the mercantile with Raeann but had left the others in the wagon. I came out with my box of supplies to see this woman holding Randy, who was crying in her arms. I asked what happened and the next thing I know this spitfire of a woman is chewing me up one side and down the other for leaving the children alone in the buggy.”

Nathan laughed. He could just see Marta doing that. Royce laughed with him. “She demanded to know where the children's mother was. That set them all a crying and that upset me. I informed her of Lucy’s death and then told her if she thought she could do better taking care of the children, she should marry me and prove it. Shocked me to no end when she told me to take her to find the preacher.”

Nathan roared with laughter. “I bet it did, at that.”

Royce nodded. “She meant it, though, and I knew I needed help. I knew I wasn’t going to find a housekeeper who’d be able to watch the young’uns as well. So I took her to Bachelor and talked to Callum and we were married about half an hour later.”

Nathan nodded. “Looks like God provided just what you and Marta both needed. Just when you needed it. So what’s the problem?”

Royce looked at Nathan, “What do you mean?”

“I mean I’ve been at your house all day and I’ve watched you and her. You seem to be attracted to her. And I know she’s attracted to you. All those little touches she gives you and that smile when you look at her. The way she watches you when she thinks you’re not watching her. However, I noticed you don’t seem to show her any affection. I mean, we left and I kissed my wife and you kissed yours on the forehead like she was Rachel and not your wife.”

“I didn’t marry her for love, Nathan. I married her for the children’s sake.”

“Yet you love her.”

Royce shook his head. “No! She’s attractive. But I don’t love her. I love Lucy.”

Nathan pulled up on his reins, stopping Storm and forcing Royce to stop, too. “Royce, are you telling me that you won’t show Marta affection because of Lucy?”

“Of course that’s what I’m telling you. I made vows to Lucy when we married. You know, to love her, to forsake all others. I’m keeping those vows.”

Nathan shook his head. “I’m a preacher, Royce. I know those vows you took. They say until death parts you. Lucy is dead. Your vows are ended.”

"No, I aim to keep ’em until death. Just like I promised.”

Nathan shook his head. “You know that isn’t going to work. You do know that, don’t you?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that either Marta will come to resent you not loving her the way you vowed you would before God and your house will be filled with bitterness and anger, or she’ll leave, and have every right to, since you won’t honor your vows to her. But the worst thing that can happen is this. Eventually, your desires and physical needs will overwhelm you. Then you’ll exercise your rights, only Marta won’t feel loved and cherished; she’ll feel used. Instead of the act being one of shared love and passion, it will become a duty she performs. You’ll come to resent that she isn’t like what you had with Lucy. Eventually, what should have been an example of love will become an expression of guilt and shame. Your guilt and her shame.”

Royce glared at Nathan. “You don’t get it. I already feel guilty. Every morning when I wake up with Marta pulled up tight against me, my hands in intimate places, I feel like I’ve cheated on Lucy. When Marta wants me to kiss and spark with her so she becomes comfortable with the physical side of marriage, I feel guilty. Those kisses should belong to Lucy. My response to those kisses should be for Lucy.”

Nathan shook his head and walked Storm sideways until he could lay a hand on Royce's shoulder. “But you aren’t cheating on Lucy, because Lucy is beyond the need for your love and devotion. Let’s look at this another way. What if it had been you who’d died? Would you expect Lucy to be faithful to you the rest of her days?”

“What do you mean?”

“If you’d died, would you want Lucy to remain single and alone the rest of her life?”

"No, of course not. But that’s different.”

“How is it different? Do you think she wants you to be alone the rest of yours? Don’t you think she wanted what you would want for her? She wants you to be happy, to experience love. But to do that you have to let go of vows that are finished. Death has parted you from them, my friend.”

Royce swallowed and fought to keep control of his sorrow. “But if I love Marta, then I’m admitting that I don’t love Lucy anymore. I can’t do that.”

Nathan nudged Storm into a walk and Royce followed alongside him. “So you can only love one person at a time?”

“Yes.”

Nathan shook his head. “Then I feel sorry for Rachel, RJ, Randy, Rose, and Raeann. It’s a shame you have no love to give them.”

Royce shook his head. “That’s different, Nathan, and you know it. I love them. They're my children.”

Nathan looked at him in mock shock. “You mean you can love more than one person at a time? So if that’s true, why can’t you love Marta without discarding the love you felt for Lucy? Do you think Marta expects you to forget Lucy?”

"No, of course not. She’s made it a point to remind the children of their mother. She even told them she wants them to love their mother still. She wants them to know Lucy loved them.”

“Then Royce, the only problem I see here is you. You seem to need to punish yourself and you’re saying it’s out of love for Lucy, but I think it’s because you feel you let Lucy down. You didn’t; you loved her. You cared for her and now God has given you another wife to do the same for. The question is, are you going to obey His word and love your wife?”

Nathan could see that his questions had hit their mark, so he kicked Storm into a trot. “Let’s get back to the ranch. I reckon our wives have cooked up a feast by now.”

Together the two men set their mounts to galloping toward the Circle C and a hearty meal.