Twelve

The morning seemed to stretch on for hours and hours. Lottie set the boys to doing the morning chores usually handled by Eduardo and the cowhands. Addie arrived and removed the bullet from Jess’s shoulder, all the while lecturing her husband on the risks he took that were driving her to an early grave.

“It’s a minor wound. You’ll live,” she said as she fitted him with a sling to support his arm. “Not sure about the rest of us. Now, tell us what happened.” She motioned for Juanita, Nell, and Lottie to sit in the chairs closest to the sofa. She stood.

Jess skimmed over the details. He, Seth, and the militia had stationed themselves around the Galway ranch, and sure enough, not long after, Collins and a gang of his men arrived. They gathered kindling in the barn, intent on setting it afire. “Collins was just about to give the order to start the fire when we surrounded them. He made a run for it, and one of the soldiers shot him, but he still managed to ride off. I took off after him.”

“Of course you did,” Addie muttered, rolling her eyes. “Where was Seth? He’s the sheriff.”

“He’d moved in on the men in the barn, wanted to be sure they didn’t light that fire.”

“Did Trey—”

Jess looked at her. “He wasn’t there, Nell. He came on me and Pete later after Collins shot me and my horse. We were at a standoff when Trey came upon us. Found me and tricked me into coming back here while he went after Collins himself. He saved my life,” he added as if he couldn’t quite believe it.

“He’s been there all night with that man?” Juanita’s dismay was evident in the way she twisted her hands and moved to a window as if doing so would bring Trey back.

Nell’s throat closed, and for a moment, she thought she might not be able to breathe. At the same time, fear gripped her heart. She willed herself to listen as Jess continued.

“Collins likely broke his leg when his horse went down, and I think one of the soldiers got a shot off as he fled the scene. Trey’s in no danger from him.”

“So you say,” Juanita muttered.

“I thought before I passed out…I thought… You sent some men to get Trey, didn’t you?” Jess’s voice shook as if he was uncertain he’d actually given them the information they needed to find his brother.

“We did,” Juanita said, “but even riding full out, it’s over an hour to Deadman’s Point from here.” She glanced at Nell and crossed the room to stand with her. “Now you listen to me, Nell Porterfield. Trey is smart and strong. He’ll find his way back to us. May take some time, but he’ll be here.”

Nell noticed how the older woman’s voice quivered her and her eyes shone with unshed tears. She knew Juanita was every bit as scared as she was. Wrapping her arms around the woman who loved Trey as much as her own sons, she murmured, “We’ll wait together.” She knew by the way Juanita nodded and returned her embrace that the chasm that had separated them ever since Javier’s death had been bridged. They were two women who loved Trey, and they would stand together no matter what came.

* * *

Trey helped the soldiers put Pete on the wagon bed. “Pete, you said something earlier about the sheep, about there being more saved from the stampede. What did you mean?”

Collins squinted at him as if trying to decide how much to tell him. “Maybe we can make a deal,” he said, his voice raspy.

“What kind of a deal?” Trey didn’t trust the man, but if there was a chance some more of Nell’s and Lottie’s sheep were still alive, that would be the best possible news—especially for Lottie and her boys.

“Talk to your brother-in-law about having the court go easy on me, and maybe…” His words were slurred, and he passed out before he could complete the sentence.

“Gotta get going,” a soldier said.

Trey nodded and watched the wagon rumble away before heading for home. Along the way, he thought of nothing but where Pete might have stashed those sheep. Or maybe he’d been lying to use hope as a bargaining chip. Tomorrow, he would ride over to Pete’s place, have a look around, and find out if any sheep were there.

* * *

Nell was the first to spot Trey. She hurried across the courtyard to meet him, her heart racing as she prayed he was not injured. To her relief, he grinned when he saw her and ran to meet her. He caught her in his arms and lifted her so that she rested against him. They kissed, and she pulled back to study him, tracing his features as if that would tell her what she needed to know.

“Are you hurt?” she asked. “Because Jess said—”

“I’m fine, Nellie, just fine.” He set her down and wrapped his arm around her as they walked back to the house. A ranch hand took charge of Trey’s horse, and, hands on hips, Juanita watched from the doorway.

“Have you had anything to eat?” she asked when Trey and Nell reached the house.

“A piece of jerky,” he replied. “I was countin’ on you saving me something.” He grinned at the housekeeper.

“You know I did. You smell like a wool blanket that’s been left out in the rain, and you need a shave.” She touched his cheek on the pretense of examining his whiskers, but Nell wasn’t fooled. Like her, Juanita needed to assure herself he was safe and home. “Go get yourself cleaned up, and see that your wife takes a rest. She’s been worried sick.”

“I’ll help,” Lottie said as she followed Juanita into the kitchen.

Trey looked at Nell. “I’m sorry, Nellie. I thought Jess would assure you I was in no danger.” His eyes widened with concern. “Jess made it back, didn’t he?”

“I’m in here, little brother,” Jess shouted from the front of the house. “No thanks to you. Did they arrest Collins?”

Trey crossed the hall so he could speak face-to-face with his brother. “Yeah. They also have several of his cowhands in custody.”

“It’s over then,” Jess said, and he squeezed Addie’s hand.

“Not quite,” Trey replied. “Pete hinted at the possibility that not all the sheep were stampeded over that cliff. I think he saw an opportunity and took some to a place where he could go back for them later and sell them at market. If there are more than the ones we were able to round up, that could be good news for Lottie.”

Nell drew in a breath. “You mean Lottie and the boys are not ruined?”

“Now, don’t get your hopes up too high, darlin’,” Trey said. “Pete could have been bluffing, hoping to make a deal.”

“Or he could just be the meanest son of a gun in these parts,” Jess added. “Could be he wanted to raise hopes and then when there were no sheep, he’d have the last laugh.”

Addie shushed him and turned to Nell. “It would probably be best not to mention the possibility to Lottie until we’re sure,” she said. “Your sister-in-law is still in a pretty fragile place, and the closer she gets to seeing her son in court, the worse it will get for her.”

“I won’t say anything, but we have to know.” She turned to Trey. “Not right away, of course. You need your rest.”

“I’ll go first thing tomorrow,” he assured her.

“Take our shepherds with you. They know how to track, and if anyone can find those sheep, they can.”

Behind them, Nell heard Juanita let out an exasperated huff. None of them had heard her enter the room, but now they gave her their full attention. “If the four of you are done solving the problems of the world, maybe Trey could have his bath and a hot meal?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Trey said, and as he passed her on his way to the bedroom, he leaned down and kissed her cheek.

“Get away from me. You smell to high heaven.” But she was smiling as she returned to the kitchen.

Nell followed Trey down the hall. While he undressed, Eduardo brought pails of hot water and filled the tub for him. Once he had sunk into the steaming bath with a sigh of pure exhaustion, Nell washed his hair and sat on the edge of the copper tub to shave him. With each pass of the straight razor, she revealed more of his handsome face and thought how blessed she was to have married him.

“How’s the baby?” he asked, pressing his wet hand to her stomach.

“Fine.” She hesitated, afraid to jinx their good fortune.

Trey pushed himself to a sitting position in the tub. “Fine, but?”

“No, truly. We are both doing well. I’m just a little superstitious. I mean, with Calvin—”

“I’m not Calvin,” Trey said softly.

“I know.” She hated upsetting him, so she changed the subject as she finished shaving him. “Joshua noticed all the family portraits you’ve done and is curious when you might do one of him—and me.”

Trey chuckled. “How do you know I haven’t already started?”

“Truly? When can we see them?”

“Go get my sketchbook while I dry off and put on some clean clothes. It’s in the library.”

Nell had seen the sketchbook, had even seen Trey working on a sketch when he left their bed late at night and needed to think. But on the rare occasions when she’d wandered into the library, she noticed he closed the sketchbook and set it aside before turning to her and holding out his arms to her. So she had never asked to see the work. But now with permission granted, she laid the thick pad on the table and opened it. Inside were pages of drawings of her, of Joshua, of her with Joshua. She spread them out on the long library table and studied each one. In every portrait, she was looking directly out of the page—presumably at the artist—and smiling. Sometimes, the smile was tender, a lifting of the corners of her mouth, and other times, she was almost laughing. He’d made one drawing of her reading with Joshua and another of the two of them sitting outside in the courtyard while he sketched them through the window.

“Got a favorite?” Trey asked, buckling his belt as he padded barefoot into the room.

“I love them all. Oh, Trey, when did you do these? I don’t remember posing for them.”

“Did most of them from memory at night after you were asleep.” He pointed to one. “This was that day we spent collecting piñon nuts.”

“You have such a gift.”

He fingered a drawing of her alone. “Yeah, I do at that.” He dropped the sketch and took her in his arms. “I have you.”

She rested her cheek against his chest and closed her eyes. He was home safe, and the danger they had all been in had passed. They were going to be all right.

And then she thought of Lottie—her husband dead and one son possibly on his way to prison. “Trey, we have to find those sheep,” she said softly. “Lottie’s future depends on it.”

“I’ll start hunting for them first thing tomorrow,” he promised as he kissed the top of her head. “But tonight, I don’t want to think about anyone but my family—you, Josh, and that baby.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him closer. They were kissing when Nell heard Addie clear her throat.

“Sorry to barge in, but if you two don’t come eat something, I’m afraid Nita might explode.”

Trey laughed and took Nell’s hand as they headed for the kitchen. “Can’t have that now, can we?”

As they passed in the corridor, Addie whispered, “Remember not to overdo.” It was a warning, but it was also the first time since Javier’s death that Addie had reached out to her.

Nell paused and squeezed her friend’s hand. “I’ll be careful,” she said. “Besides, as long as you’re there, this baby is going to be just fine, right?”

Addie grinned, and it was the smile Nell had come to cherish—a smile shared between two women who could count on each other to be there through anything that might come.

“Try keeping me away,” Addie said. She glanced at Trey. “Seems to me this baby might be in need of a godmother. I’d like to apply for the job if it’s open.”

“You’re hired,” Trey replied. “Pay’s not much but—”

The rest of his words were drowned out as Nell hugged Addie and the two women squealed with joy.

* * *

Juanita sat up late that night, and for once, it was not because she was worried. She simply wanted to drink in the relief of knowing Trey and Jess were both safe. Hopefully with the arrest of Pete Collins and his men, the troubles that had plagued them all for months now were finally over. Us versus them…those people… Was it just possible that the two sides had finally come to their senses and realized people were people, regardless of how they made their living? Was it too much to hope that maybe someday people would not judge each other by the color of their skin or where their ancestors had come from? Maybe someday. Not in her lifetime, but maybe in Trey’s or his child’s.

“That baby will be here before we know it,” she said as Eduardo joined her. When they were alone like this, they spoke in their native language. Trey and Nell’s baby—a child to be raised right here on the ranch.

“And you’ll be spoiling it and then fussing because the kid doesn’t listen.” He patted her hand as he sat in the rocking chair next to hers.

“Keeps me young,” she replied with a smile. “I think Nell will be a fine mother. The way Joshua has turned out is a good omen.”

Eduardo lit his pipe, drew on it, and blew out the smoke. “I know you were worried when Trey married her, Nita, but she does seem to be working out just fine.”

Juanita snorted. “You make her sound like hired help, a cowhand you might have doubted who has proved himself worthy.”

“She’s strong, I’ll give her that. Not many I know could have come through what she’s had to endure without bending—or more likely, breaking.”

“She’s got one more test ahead—this baby. She lost three before.”

“She seems all right.”

Juanita shrugged. “Still, Addie’s worried. I can tell.”

“And you?”

She released a heavy sigh. “We need children on this ranch, Eduardo. Life—we need life and liveliness and laughter. Things are changing so fast, and I don’t like it. I want it to be the way it was.”

“And we both know that isn’t possible.” He took hold of her hand and continued to smoke his pipe as he gazed out into the darkness. “You know Nell being here means that boy will be coming around as well.”

Juanita didn’t have to ask who he meant. Neither of them had been able to look at Ira Galway during the time he’d been at the ranch. They were polite as was their duty, but this was the boy who had killed Javier, and Juanita knew it would take a minor miracle for her to ever be able to look directly at him without showing the anger she felt toward him.

“I know he and his brother and mother will likely be coming around. I don’t have to like it, but we must find our way to peace, or this never ends.” She heard the front door open and close and saw Trey walk away from the house to the cemetery. It was a walk Juanita had watched him take every night he was home in the months that had passed since Javier’s funeral, sometimes with Nell, more often alone. The low wrought-iron gate squealed in protest when he opened it. He touched the markers for his parents’ graves and then knelt next to Javier’s tombstone.

“There’s Trey,” Eduardo murmured as if she wouldn’t have noticed.

“He still blames himself,” she said. “He shouldn’t, but he does.”

“Maybe it just gives him some peace to be there,” Eduardo suggested.

“I hope so,” she whispered. “He reminds me of his father more and more every day.” She stood. “You should go with him tomorrow to look for those sheep.”

“Already planned on it,” Eduardo said as he tamped out his pipe. “Got a good feeling about that.”

* * *

The following morning, Trey packed his saddlebags with jerky and other provisions he, Eduardo, and the shepherds were likely to need as they began the search for the missing sheep. He refused to consider that there might not be any sheep at all, but even so, the search would be long and tedious.

“The shepherds suggest we start at the Galway ranch,” Eduardo said. “We can start where the sheep were grazing that night, and since we know where some of them died, that might give us a direction.”

Trey nodded.

But when they reached the Galway ranch, they saw a detail of soldiers escorting Ira to a wagon. Lottie and Spud were standing on the porch.

“What’s going on?” Trey asked as he came alongside the wagon and soldiers.

“Judge Ellis is holding court at the fort,” one of the men said. “This one’s case comes up first thing tomorrow.”

Trey shifted his attention to Ira. “How are you holding up?”

The boy was scared, but he put on a brave face. “I’m all right, but Ma—”

“Eduardo, go send word to Seth and Jess to meet us at the fort as soon as possible. Then bring Nell and Juanita here—and Josh as well. We’ll be staying here until the trial is over.” He calculated the distance between the fort and the Galway property and figured they could make the trip back and forth in just over an hour. When Eduardo rode away, Trey reached down and covered Ira’s shackled hand with his. “Stay strong,” he said softly.

Ira nodded, but he was shaking with fear. As the wagon surrounded by soldiers on horseback pulled away, Ira looked back at his mother and brother and tried to wave.

“Lottie?” Trey dismounted and approached the porch. “I’ve sent for Nell.”

Lottie kept her gaze fixed on the wagon carrying her son. She was dry-eyed, and it occurred to Trey that with everything she’d been through, there were no more tears.

“Spud, you think you can handle the chores on your own for the time being?” he asked.

“Yes, sir.” He glanced at his mother and then strode toward the barn, a boy who moved like he knew it was time to be a man.

Trey climbed the steps to the porch. “What did the soldiers tell you, Lottie?”

She shrugged. “Just that the judge had arrived and the trial would start tomorrow.” She continued to stare at the now deserted trail. “I didn’t give him anything to eat. He’s had nothing since breakfast.”

“They’ll see he’s fed at the fort,” Trey assured her. Gently, he led her inside. He was out of his element, not knowing what to do. “Can I get you anything?”

“I’ll make us some coffee,” Lottie said, leading the way to the kitchen. “We can wait for Nell together.” She pumped water for the coffee before adding, “And then we can all go to the fort.”

The way she said it, Trey knew there was no point arguing.

* * *

Juanita was unusually quiet as they made the trip to Lottie’s place. Nell noticed that any comment Eduardo made to her was answered with a shrug or a noncommittal grunt. While Juanita sat on the wagon seat next to her husband, Nell sat in back with Joshua. Her son lay on the bare boards of the wagon bed, his head in her lap, his hat covering his face.

“Lottie must be beside herself,” Nell observed.

“Hmm,” was Juanita’s reply.

Nell couldn’t stand the silence, so she spoke the thoughts that crowded her mind. “Ira is so young.”

“Sí,” Juanita agreed.

“I can’t help thinking if that were Joshua, how would I feel?”

No response. Nell dropped her attempts at conversation and stroked Joshua’s hair. She had almost dozed off herself when Juanita made an announcement that brought her wide awake.

“I would like to speak at the trial,” she said. She turned so that she could look back at Nell. “Do you think they would allow that?”

Nell was speechless with surprise. “I…what would… You weren’t there,” she finally managed.

“It was my son who died that day, my son who was there but cannot speak for himself.”

Fear grabbed Nell by the throat and held her paralyzed. If Juanita spoke out, would that not makes matters worse for Ira? Nell struggled between her respect and admiration for Javier’s parents and her need to do what she could to protect her nephew.

Juanita was still staring at her, still awaiting some form of agreement—or disagreement.

“We’ll see what Trey says,” Nell said, her voice barely a whisper.

Juanita snorted and waved a dismissive hand. “We’ll see what the judge says.”

When they arrived at Lottie’s house, Nell was surprised to see her sister-in-law standing on the porch, wearing her best dress and hat and clutching a carpetbag that was clearly filled and heavy. Trey was outside the barn, speaking with Spud and the shepherds.

“Refresh yourselves if need be,” Lottie said the minute they were close enough to hear. “You’re welcome to stay in the house, or you can come with me, but I am going to the fort.”

Trey walked toward them, his eyes on Nell. “You and Josh should stay here with Nita and Eduardo. Spud is going to need help managing things and—”

“I’m going to the fort,” Juanita interrupted.

Trey glanced from Lottie on the porch to Nita in the wagon. He removed his hat as he approached the wagon. “Nita, it would be best if—”

“Don’t try and stop me, Trey. This trial is as much our business as anybody’s.”

Nell took Trey’s arm. “She wants to speak at the trial.”

“I don’t think that would be allowed,” Trey replied, clearly every bit as taken aback as Nell had been.

“We’ll see,” Juanita grumbled through lips she had drawn into a determined line. She settled herself more firmly on the wagon seat. “Nothin’ to be lost by asking.”

“I’ll stay and look after the ranch and the boys,” Eduardo said as he climbed down and faced Trey. “She needs to be there, Son.”

“We’ll all go,” Nell suggested, seeing no way out of the impasse. In spite of her outward appearance of strength and determination, to someone who knew her, Lottie looked to be close to a complete breakdown. “All except Eduardo, Spud, and Josh. As you said, they can manage things here.” She gripped Trey’s arm more firmly, entreating him to accept the plan.

“You need to rest,” he insisted.

Nell turned from the others and lowered her voice. “I’m fine. Lottie needs me right now. Please don’t fight me, Trey. We’ll ride in back while you drive and try to talk sense into Juanita.”

Outnumbered, Trey helped Lottie and Nell into the wagon and climbed up to take the reins. Juanita sat next to him but kept her focus straight ahead, as if they were already on their way. Nell saw him glance first at Juanita and then back at her.

“Let’s go,” she said softly.

* * *

Ira’s trial was held in a small, barren room next to Colonel Ashwood’s office. Even though the fort was technically shut down, it seemed the most logical place to hold the proceedings. The colonel’s aide had set up a wooden table at one end of the room and two chairs—one for the judge and the other for the soldier who would record the proceedings. Under the high, narrow windows that lined both sides of the room were two more tables—one where Seth sat next to Colonel Ashwood and across from that, a smaller table where Ira sat alone.

Trey, Nell, Lottie, and Juanita sat in chairs hastily crowded into the room when they’d made their intention to attend the proceedings known. The heat was oppressive with so many people in such close quarters.

Juanita stared at the boy—a child really. Of course, she had seen him before when he and his brother had come to the ranch, but she had kept her distance. Oh, she had done her job—prepared and served food—but she had refused to speak to him or indeed to look at him if she could help it.

Now she had little choice. She saw that he was afraid—and ashamed. The way he had reacted when he saw his mother the night before told Juanita that he had begun to come to terms with how his rash act had affected others. She recalled a time when Javier had exhibited similar humiliation. He had been caught with two other boys harassing an old miner who worked a claim not far from the Porterfield ranch.

Of course, her son hadn’t killed anyone. Or had he? Had he been party to the murder of Nell’s first husband? Had her son gotten so caught up in Pete Collins’s vile hatred of anything that struck him as different that he’d ridden with Collins that night?

“I wish to sit with my son,” Lottie said to no one in particular.

Judge Ellis glanced up from the papers he was reading. “Ma’am?”

“That is my son. I would like to sit with him.”

The judge looked a bit mystified. “Well, I suppose it would be all right.”

Juanita watched Trey move Lottie’s chair to the table where Ira sat. Once she was settled, the judge went back to reading the papers, then cleared his throat. “Colonel Ashwood, if you are ready…”

Juanita was vaguely aware that the trial had begun. Colonel Ashwood was standing before the judge reading from a paper that outlined the charges. Jess spoke next, describing the events of the day. Then the judge asked Ira a series of questions. The boy stuttered his way through his answers, his body twitching nervously, his voice barely audible.

It was all going so quickly, and Juanita felt a panic rise in her chest. Everything she’d heard told her the boy would be found guilty and sent away. She had come here to remind the judge that Javier had been brutally murdered, to add to the weight of the evidence against her son’s killer. But in Lottie, she saw a mother who was helpless to save her child—and she understood that feeling. So when the judge instructed Ira to stand and was clearly about to pronounce sentence, she knew she had to speak. There was nothing to be gained from vengeance.

Juanita leaped to her feet. “I have something to say, if it please Your Honor,” she announced. Her voice echoed off the stone walls in the mostly deserted room.

From the corner of her eyes, she saw Jess half rise from his chair. She fixed him with the look that had brooked no argument when he was a boy, and he sat down again.

“Who are you?” Judge Ellis asked.

“My name is Juanita Mendez. It was my son, Javier, who died that day.”

“Mrs. Mendez, the court has heard the information it needs to come to a decision. I know this must be upsetting for you, but I assure you justice will be—”

“May I speak?”

“This is most unusual,” Judge Ellis commented more to the colonel than to Juanita, but she stood her ground. The judge looked around the room. “Are there any objections?”

No one spoke. Every eye was fixed on Juanita.

“Very well, Mrs. Mendez, but I would entreat you to be brief.”

Juanita stepped away from her chair and walked to the table where Ira stood next to his mother. She gave the boy her full attention, commanding his in return. “On my way here yesterday, I was filled with a fresh dose of all the anger and grief I felt that day they brought my son’s body home to me. I wanted to be sure that someone would speak for Javier Mendez, who cannot speak for himself.”

Tears rolled down Ira’s cheeks, but to his credit, he did not look away.

She looked at Lottie. “But now I think what good will it do to destroy the life of another mother’s son? To cast her into that pit of loss?” She moved a step closer and squeezed Lottie’s hand before turning to face the judge.

“We do not know your decision, sir, but we can guess based on what we have heard today. As the mother of the victim, as someone who has watched as my neighbors have suffered the loss of life and property, I say it is enough. I am pleading with you to forgive this boy as my husband and I must. Surely in these difficult times, it would be more charitable to forgive than to dole out a punishment, one that will not bring back my son and will destroy not only this boy’s life, but that of his mother and brother as well.”

Her knees were shaking as she returned to her chair between Trey and Nell, and the only sounds in the room were Lottie Galway’s soft sobbing, the rustling of papers, and Trey’s long exhaled breath. She took hold of his hand and Nell’s and held on as they waited together for the judge to read his decision.

* * *

Nell squeezed Juanita’s hand, overwhelmed by the woman’s benevolence. Ira sat on the edge of his chair, nervously cracking his knuckles while they waited to see what Judge Ellis would do. Lottie was looking at Juanita, her mouth open in disbelief.

When Judge Ellis cleared his throat, every eye turned to him.

“Ira Galway, please approach,” the judge intoned.

Ira glanced at his mother, who urged him forward. “Yes, sir,” he said.

“Do you have anything to say?”

Ira’s chin dropped to his chest as he muttered something.

“Speak up!”

Ira looked at the judge. “May I say something to Mrs. Mendez?”

Nell heard Juanita draw in a breath. Without waiting for the judge to give permission, she walked to Ira’s side. “Yes,” she said firmly. “Speak to me.”

Judge Ellis threw up his hands in a gesture of surrender and leaned back in his chair.

“I never meant… After Uncle Calvin was killed, I always carried the knife. My pa never knew I had it, but I thought one day, I might need it. That day when…” He hesitated.

“Javier,” Juanita said softly.

“When Javier and me was fighting, I realized he was stronger and bigger, and I thought…” Tears rolled down his cheeks, and he shook his head, signaling he had no more words.

Juanita wrapped her arms around him. “Shhh,” she whispered. Then she turned with him to face the judge.

Judge Ellis spoke. “Ira Galway, you have admitted bringing a weapon with you that day. You have admitted using it. You have acknowledged that while your intent was to wound, you did in fact kill Javier Mendez. Therefore, I find you guilty as charged.”

“No!” Lottie screamed.

“No,” Nell whispered.

Trey shifted onto the chair Juanita had left vacant between them and wrapped his arms around her.

Judge Ellis banged his gavel on the wooden table. “As for your sentence, that has given me pause. I find I must take into consideration the forgiveness tendered to you by your victim’s mother.” He drew in a breath and slowly let it out as Nell held hers.

“I see nothing to be gained in putting someone so young away for the rest of his life. I will admit that I felt I had no choice, for the fact is that if I were lenient with you, others would feel that it was because you are white and your victim was not. Others would say that if the situation had been reversed and you had died in that fight, there would be no question regarding the appropriate sentence.”

Trey tightened his hold on Nell while Juanita took a firm hold of Ira’s hand.

“This has been a most unusual proceeding, and therefore, I feel inclined to offer an unusual sentence. Ira Galway, I sentence you to return with your mother to your home, with the provision that at least three times each week, you spend time at the Porterfield ranch. There, you will work under the guidance of Mr. Trey Porterfield, completing the chores your victim would have done had he lived. You will not move away or leave the area for any reason until such time as this court agrees. If you do, you will be arrested and imprisoned. Do you understand?”

Nell stared at Trey. Had she heard the judge’s words correctly? Was he saying Ira was free to go home with Lottie? To live his life without serving prison time? Trey was smiling, so it must be so.

“Well, speak up, Mr. Galway,” the judge demanded. “Do we have an understanding of the terms of your release?”

“I think so… Yes, sir.”

“In that case, court is adjourned.” Ellis banged down his gavel and stood.

Lottie ran to Ira and hugged him, then turned to Juanita and clasped hands with her, thanking her repeatedly.

Nell smiled. She could not remember a time when Juanita had ever seemed quite so embarrassed. “We should have a party,” she told Trey.

He kissed her forehead. “No. We have to get you home. It’s high time you took care of yourself and that baby, Nellie.”

“We still need to find those missing sheep,” she reminded him.

“We do not. I’ll take care of it.”

And she knew he would.