Chapter Fourteen
Big Pine, Montana
“What do you think?” Harry Penderville slid off his horse, huddling next to his brother near a dwindling campfire. Two of their men had ridden into Big Pine on several nights over the last week, getting to know the town, learning about the sheriff and his deputies, and identifying the largest bank. Harry and Milt continued to talk about the best scheme for hitting the bank and when.
“We’ve got to make our move before the local mine manager withdraws the payroll money on Friday.” Milt sat on his haunches, using a stick to trace lazy patterns in the dirt. “Best time will be right after the bank reopens after lunch. They won’t be expecting us in broad daylight. According to the boys, that’s when the deputies make their afternoon rounds.”
Harry straightened and paced in circles, not fond of the idea of a robbery in the middle of the day. Their older brother, Chet, had tried the same in Splendor and ended up dead, along with the others who rode with him. Harry also knew they had few options. While in Big Pine, the boys had heard Milt and his name mentioned, knowing the sheriff in Bloody Basin had sent word the gang might be on their way. Until now, all their raids had been at night. The lawmen wouldn’t expect a raid in the middle of the afternoon.
“We’ll post men across the street. You and I will go inside, get what we can, and get out.” He watched Milt continue to draw meaningless circles in the dirt, knowing it was his brother’s way of releasing stress. “Or we skip Big Pine and ride straight for Splendor.”
Milt’s surprised gaze locked with Harry’s, his mind working as he thought about passing up a small fortune in payroll. “The money could set us up for months.”
“And warn the people of Splendor we’re on our way. If we take the payroll, I say we ride south, out of Montana and into Idaho, then on to California as we planned. Forget about Splendor and avenging Chet.” Harry crossed his arms as he planted his feet shoulder width apart. “We’d be fools to do both.”
Milt tossed down the stick and pushed to his feet, considering what Harry had said. His brother came up with a good idea once in a while, and this one made sense.
“They won’t have any idea where we are if we don’t ride into Big Pine. May even think we rode out of the territory.” Milt glanced at the men as they sat playing cards several feet away. “We could ride on to Splendor, get our business done, then come right back here before word has spread.”
“It would be a hard day’s ride, but it could be done. The mine pays every two weeks. We could plan it so we find the men who killed Chet and the boys, then ride back to Big Pine before they withdraw the money.” Harry drew a hand down his face, massaging his stubbled chin. Milt wouldn’t give up on avenging Chet, yet the gang needed the money before riding out of Montana on their way to California. “It could work.”
“Luke and I are riding into Splendor for the town meeting. Why don’t you come with us, Bull?” After a day chasing cattle, Dax tried to brush off the dirt before stepping into the house.
“I’ve never been to a town meeting. Is something going on I haven’t heard about?” Unless his bosses needed something, Bull rode into town for two reasons—to drink and play cards, or to see Lydia. Ever since she’d taken the position to help Abby Brandt with Gabriel, they’d seen little of each other. The separation wore on him, and from what he’d seen, it bothered Lydia about as much.
“They’re talking about forming a town council with a mayor. It’s been informal up until now. Maybe putting it down and having elections is a better way to go. Think about it. You know Noah will be there, which means Abby and Lydia will be taking care of Gabriel.” Dax saw the moment Bull understood his meaning. “We leave in an hour.”
“I’ll be ready.” Bull nodded, picking up his pace as he walked to the small house the Pelletiers provided him. He hadn’t seen Lydia in over a week, and the hole in his heart got bigger each day. Dax and Luke had changed his circumstances with the offer of becoming their foreman.
He had his own place. The same house Hank and Bernice Wilson, an older couple who had worked for Dax and Luke since they arrived, had called home until they moved to California due to her health. Although small, it came furnished and included a living room, kitchen, one bedroom, a large pantry, and wood room. He took many of his meals with the Pelletiers, meaning he saved a large portion of his monthly wage, which he’d asked Noah to help him invest. Life was the best it had ever been, then Lydia agreed to work in town.
Bull didn’t begrudge Noah and Abby drawing her away. They needed help with Gabriel, and Lydia loved children. The remaining orphans were older, able to do chores and pay for their keep. They no longer needed Lydia to watch over them. He couldn’t believe how much the young runaways had changed since a group of men, including himself, discovered them hiding in a cave above Luke’s original house near Wildfire Creek.
While washing off the day’s dirt and donning clean clothes, Bull considered his future. Growing up in Ohio, he’d worked alongside his father in the family construction business. Then he’d joined the war, fighting for the North. After his service, he needed space, distance from his past, a place to start over. He’d ended up in Splendor and started working for deceased Texas Ranger, Patrick Hanes, whose will bequeathed the ranch to his two Ranger friends—Dax and Luke. They’d convinced Bull to stay on and work with them. It had been the right decision. They weren’t only his bosses, they were good friends. Finances, though, continued to be tight, to the point he didn’t see a way to support a wife and family. With the promotion, his future had turned.
Bull never thought his situation would change enough to state his feelings to Lydia, ask her to marry him. Now she’d left the ranch. From what he knew, she spent a good deal of time in town with Abby and the baby. A town full of single men looking for a woman like Lydia to claim. Well, he thought, they’d do it over my dead body.
“Bull, you ready?” Luke shoved open the door, as was his custom when visiting Bull. “Lordy! Is there a special occasion I don’t know about?”
Bull scowled as he finished buckling his gun belt. “Let’s go.” He glanced at Luke, challenging him to say more. Over six foot four with broad shoulders that didn’t clear some doorways, few people ever pushed him too far. They were lucky his temper burned at a slow pace.
Luke’s smirk fell as he shook his head, heading outside. It didn’t take a genius to guess what Bull planned. Grabbing the reins of two horses, Luke swung up on Prince, tossing Abe’s reins to Bull. Dax joined them on Hannibal a moment later.
“You two ready?” Dax looked between Luke and Bull.
Luke let out a loud whoop. “Race you to the rock.” He kicked Prince into a run, laughing as he headed toward the huge bolder marking the entrance to Redemption’s Edge.
Dax cast a furtive look at Bull. “We going to let him win?”
“Hell no.” A broad smile flashed across Bull’s face a moment before he took off after Luke.
“The vote carries. We will be forming a town council and electing a mayor.” Gabe stood at the front of the room in the crowded schoolhouse. He’d been pressured into leading the meeting the moment he’d walked in the door. “Now, we need the names of six people to be voted onto the town council. Yes, Reverend Paige. Who do you nominate?”
The meeting continued until the town ended up with a full council, which included Stan Petermann, Nick Barnett, Noah Brandt, Silas Jenks, Horace Clausen, and Dax. Luke and Gabe had both been nominated, each begging off for different reasons.
“All right. There are two more items, then you can all go home.” Gabe glanced down at the list, glad his work was almost over.
Bull leaned toward Luke, his voice low. “I’m going to ride up to Noah’s and visit with Abby and Gabriel.”
Luke’s raised brows got the reaction intended.
“All right. I’m going to see Lydia. Satisfied?” Bull rose as quietly as a man his size could and walked out, wasting no time riding up the hill above town to the Brandt’s home. Reining Abe to a stop, he sat a moment, breathing in deep, letting it out in a slow whoosh, then slid to the ground. The sounds of laughter reached him as he stopped at the front door, helping him relax. Raising his hand, he knocked, then stepped back. A moment later, the door swung open.
“Good evening, Bull. It’s so good to see you. Please, come in.” Abby gave him a brief hug, then slipped her arm through his. “How did you get away from the meeting so early? I’ve been expecting Noah any time now.” They walked through the entry and into the parlor where Lydia sat in a chair, rocking a wide awake Gabriel.
Tearing his gaze from Lydia, he looked over at Abby. “I’m sure he’ll be along shortly. The meeting was still going when I left.”
Walking over to Lydia, Abby held out her arms. “I’ll put him to bed. Why don’t you get Bull some coffee and a slice of that wonderful spice cake you made?”
Bull waited, watching as Lydia disappeared into the kitchen, returning moments later with a cup of coffee and thick slice of cake.
“I hope you like it.” Her eyes lit up when she looked at him.
“If you made it, I know I’ll like it.” He waited until she took a seat, then selected one next to her. Taking a sip of coffee, he smiled. “You made it the way I like it.”
A slight blush colored her face. “A half teaspoon of sugar.”
Bull asked a few questions in between bites of cake. He’d never finished dessert so fast, but his need to be alone with her overruled any restraint. Setting down the plate and finishing his coffee, he stood, holding out his hand.
“Would you go for a walk with me?”
“I’d love to. Let me take these dishes—”
“I’ll get those, Lydia. You and Bull go ahead.” Abby picked up the dishes and disappeared into the kitchen, humming as she waited for them to leave.
As they stepped outside, the wind rustled through the trees, blowing strands of hair across Lydia’s face. Placing a hand on the small of her back, Bull guided her down the stairs toward the barn and adjoining pasture. Neither Noah nor Abby had intended to run cattle or have more than a few horses on their land. They had a couple cows, a few pigs, and a dozen chickens—enough for their own use. Noah had also prepared a section of land near the house for a garden. Their friends teased him about trading in his spurs for a plow.
“How do you like working for Abby?”
Pulling the shawl tighter, she shrugged. “Abby and Noah are wonderful, and Gabriel is such a sweet baby. I wouldn’t be surprised if he and baby Patrick become good friends. Still…”
“Still?” Bull prompted when she didn’t continue, noting the wistful tone of her voice.
“I do miss the ranch and all the activity.”
“And baby Patrick?”
“Of course. He’s walking. Soon, he’ll be talking and getting into more mischief than Rachel can imagine.” She looked up at him. “I feel like a spinster aunt, living through my friends’ families.”
Bull laughed at the comparison. “Trust me, Lydia. You are nothing close to a spinster aunt. You have a gift with children. Our friends recognize it, and believe me, are grateful for your help.”
“I’m almost twenty-one, Bull.”
His eyes narrowed. “And?”
“Twenty-one,” she emphasized. “Most of my friends back home would be married with their own family by now.” She didn’t want to say more, making him think she was pushing for marriage. Stepping up to the fence, she placed her feet on the bottom rung, resting her arms on the top. “I haven’t said anything to Abby or Rachel, but I’m thinking of returning home.”
“What?” Bull couldn’t contain his shock or the harsh tone in his voice. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her off the fence and setting her in front of him. “You can’t leave, Lydia. I won’t let you.”
Shrugging out of his grasp, she stepped back. “This isn’t your decision, Bull. It’s mine.”
Taking off his hat, he shredded his fingers through his short hair, face twisting in disbelief. He turned his back to her, taking a few steps away, then stopping to stare up at the sky. A moment later, he felt her arms wrap around him from behind. Placing his hands on hers, he let out a shaky breath.
“I love you, Lydia. I don’t know what I’ll do if you leave.” Pain ripped through him at the thought of losing the woman he’d loved since finding her sick and frail in a damp cave where the orphans had been hiding.
Dropping her arms, she moved to stand in front of him, placing her hands on his chest, her eyes searching his. “You love me?”
“Of course I love you.” He choked out the declaration, wanting nothing more than to wrap her in his arms, not knowing if he had the right. Clearing his throat, searching for control, he focused his gaze on hers. “I want to marry you, Lydia. Have children. Build a life here in Splendor.”
Her gaze dropped from his, her heart throbbing almost painfully. She’d wanted to hear him say the words, confess his feelings for so long that the reality of hearing it rendered her speechless. After all this time without an indication of his love, she’d been forced to think of a future without Bull. Although it had been difficult to even consider such a life.
Settling his hands on her shoulders, he searched her face, the pain in his eyes more than she could bear.
“If you don’t love me, just say so. It isn’t what I want to hear, but I’ll understand. I know I’m not the man of your dreams. I don’t have land, or much money, or—”
She stopped him with a hand over his mouth. “Stop. You are the man of my dreams, Bull. Until tonight, I believed you didn’t feel the same and only wanted to be my friend.” She let her hands settle on his chest, lowering her gaze to the ground as her eyes grew damp.
“Friend? Of course I’m your friend. I’m also in love with you.” Tipping her chin up, he used his thumb to wipe away the tears streaming down her cheeks. “I know I’ve surprised you.”
Her ragged laugh accompanied an unsteady smile. In that moment, she knew there’d never be another man for her. Bull was everything she wanted and needed.
“You have surprised me, but in a good way. I love you, too, Bull. If you’re asking if I’ll marry you, the answer is yes.” She laughed at the sight of his jaw dropping, his eyes widening to the size of saucers.
Recovering in seconds, he picked her up and swung her around, letting out a loud yell. It was then he saw Noah riding up, reining Tempest to a stop.
“You two all right?” Noah tipped his hat back, then rested his arms on the horn of his saddle.
“Yes,” Lydia laughed, swiping at the dampness on her face.
“You’re the first to know. Lydia’s agreed to marry me.”
“Well, I’ll be. That’s wonderful news.” He dismounted, giving Bull a slap on the back, then hugging Lydia. “Congratulations. I wondered when he’d come to his senses.”
“What’s going on?” Abby came running outside, concern etched on her face.
Noah settled an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. “Bull finally asked Lydia to marry him.”
“And?” Abby raised a brow, looking at Lydia.
“I said yes.” She raised up on her toes to place a kiss on Bull’s cheek.
A smile lit Abby’s face. “It’s about time, Bull Mason.” She drew Lydia into a hug, kissing her cheek.
“Come inside and we’ll toast to your engagement.” Noah took Abby’s hand, turning toward the house.
“We’ll be right in.” Bull waited until they’d disappeared inside, then pulled Lydia into his arms. “Are you certain? It’s forever, Lydia.”
“I’m completely certain, Bull.” Wrapping her arms around his neck, she stared into his eyes, a shiver running through her as he lowered his lips to hers.
Minutes later, they were still locked together, their breathing erratic when the sound of a door opening and Noah’s shout pulled them apart.
“There’ll be plenty of time for that later, Bull. Now’s the time to celebrate.”
Bull smiled at Lydia before his expression sobered.
“I don’t have a ring for you yet.”
“I don’t need one. Your wedding ring is all I want.” She reached up and kissed him once more before clasping her hand in his, pulling him up the steps and into the house.