Unexpected (16 page)

It took him a moment to compose himself before he stepped forward and shook Cogan’s hand congratulating him.  He didn’t like it, one bit, but
it really was a good match. It was just really hard to swallow.  It was no wonder Butch looked like he wanted to gut them both.  He doesn’t like rejection, and most likely never had to deal with it.

“The invitations should be going out next week. 
Merle said he’d print them up and put them in everyone’s post office box.”

“I look forward to it.”
No he didn’t.

“Ha
ttie says she is making a feast out at the ranch for everyone. Merle says he’ll bring his band.  It will be the celebration of the year.” She couldn’t help the excitement in her voice.  While it was bittersweet, because it wasn’t real, it seemed like forever since the townsfolk had anything to celebrate.

Gus spared a glance at Cogan.  As usual, you couldn’t read a thing off that man. He couldn’t fool Gus though.  He may not show his thoughts in his expression, but any man would be
in their glory with a woman like Josie, even a dangerous man like Cogan Reid.

***

“Do you think he was that angry?” Josie finally said after they were away from town, headed home. 

Hattie was still
shaken up over that.  She wasn’t used to such hostility.  However, again Cogan came to the rescue.  She may be uneasy around the man, but he had definitely proven himself to be trustworthy.

“Yes.” Cogan answered plainly.

“Cogan, do you think he’ll come to the house. Or maybe worse, the church?” Josephine was talking about her wedding day.  Despite the circumstances, and that it would be annulled, she really wanted it to be perfect.

“He could.  He could certainly try.” He smirked to himself.

Josie looked down at her hands.  She always wanted her wedding to be a special day, and now it was clouded with fear.  Then, to her sudden surprise she felt a warm, large, roughly calloused hand cover hers.  She looked up and saw sincerity in Cogan’s deep ochre eyes.  How he knew what she was thinking during that pause of silence, shocked her, and also warmed her heart.  She never let on what was going on inside because of the added burden it would cause her already stressed family.  She also didn’t have any close friends to talk to.  Yet, here was this man, who barely knew her, who seemed to understand more of what was going on in her head than her family did.  Of course she didn’t blame them at all. They all had their own responsibilities and stresses.

“
Don’t worry Josie, all the townsfolk will be there.  Butch may be angry, but his reputation of looking like a saint means more than him causing a scene and carrying you off over his shoulder." Cogan could sense the distress in her and couldn’t help but try and relieve her worries.  She was a strong woman for such a young age.  He knew she got her strength from the love of her family.  They seemed to feed off of one another that way, and he admired that more than he could say.

She smiled. “I sure hope so.”

“Trust me.

“Oh, I do.” She said almost too quickly then averting her gaze to try and stop the blush that threatened to heat her cheeks.

Hattie saw the exchange and didn’t like it.  It wasn’t really because of her apprehension around Cogan.  Josephine was naïve with men plain and simple, and she was unsure of Cogan’s intentions.  This whole situation was not right.  Hattie knew it was to protect her, but Cogan didn’t put up a protest, not one.  What kind of man comes out of nowhere and determines himself as their savior by giving up his freedom?  It was as if there was some information missing, and it made her uncomfortable.  Ryker and Josie allowed him into their family because they really didn’t have a choice.  There was no doubt about his skills, and actually Hattie did appreciate that.  He came in handy.  Furthermore, he was unquestionably a very intelligent man, and he was wonderful with Thomas.  She already knew that Josie would defend him, because, well, she could see now that she was sweet on the big man.  For that reason she decided to keep things to herself.  She knew Hamilton women.  Like her late sister, Josephine would love deep, and she would get hurt equally if Cogan decided to leave when this whole situation was over.

That was the other thing.  This situation would end, and it wouldn’t end
well.  Butch would try and claim Josie, just like anything else he owned.  If he couldn’t buy it, he took it. 

***

Ryker was sitting on a porch swing when the wagon pulled into the yard.  Thomas was practicing with his wooden sword by spearing a hay pile near the corral.

Ryker stood up and came down the steps to help
his aunt down with his good arm. 

“It’s so nice to see you up and about,” she commented to her nephew.
  It was such a relief to see color returning to his face and the swelling decrease.

“Yeah, I’m starting to feel half alive again.” He directed his attention to Cogan. “How was the trip to town?”

“It near came to a gunfight.” Hattie clucked her tongue while answering his question. “Gus came and put an end to it.”

“Really?”
Now that was surprising.

“It seems our sheriff has had enough of Butch’s bullying,” Josie said
, while Ryker assisted her out of the wagon next.

“
It was pretty impressive,” Cogan agreed

“I’ll have us some supper within the hour,” Hattie said to the group.

“Thank you.” Josie appreciated her aunt more than she could ever tell her.  It was a trying day, and she knew how she felt around Cogan, but not once did she bring it up since that first day they hired him.  It must’ve been hard not to, because she was just as protective of her family as her and Ryker.

Hattie
went in the house.

“I’ll get the mare settled then,” Cogan said,
before he shook the reins and drove the wagon toward the barn.

Josie
watched him for a moment.  It wasn’t just Gus, she knew that Cogan’s threatening demeanor also deterred Butch, but not once did he mention it.  It was interesting to know that this man was full of humility no matter how menacing he could be. Her brother also seemed to know.

Ryker waited until
Cogan was out of earshot before he spoke.  Hattie called Thomas to come into the house and get washed up. “I’m sure Cogan had something to do with Butch’s retreat. Am I right Josie?”

She nodded and spared a glance at Cogan who was in the process of unhitching the mare.  “I can honestly tell you that he can terrify the devil with hardly any effort.” She didn’t know why she was whispering, but for some reason, even across the
distance, she instinctively felt that Cogan could hear every word she was saying.  Little did she know, the big man was smiling.

An hour later Hattie rang the bell for dinner and he
quickly rolled up his sleeves and washed in the rain barrel by the barn.  He still had his good clothes on but his hands were filthy from rubbing the mare down.  He was taught from an early age to take care of your mount to treat it like it is your only ally.  This had proven to be wise advice.  A good, well-cared for steed is loyal. That wasn’t the only thing he was taught.  His mind wandered momentarily.

He was beginning to attach himself to this family and that alone worried him.  Everything he cared about was gone, and mostly because of him, and who he was.  It was a tough thing to
live with, and he wasn’t lying to Father Sampson.  He had dealt with the guilt years ago, but now he had the burden of that possibly happening again.   It was too late for him to leave.  He came to Bakersfield for a reason other than the Hamilton family.  He was hired to do a job.  Something he didn’t disclose to these kind people, but sooner or later, it would come out.

Cogan came in the house to jovial sounds of laughter. 
He stepped into the dining room and saw them sitting around the table waiting for him.  He nodded a greeting and took a seat.  After a prayer was said, light conversation and dinner started.  Cogan participated but his thoughts were elsewhere.  He came to Bakersfield for a reason. Now, time was running out and he had some decisions to make.  Thankfully Ryker took his mind off the situation.  His conscience was niggling him.

“Cogan, would you mind riding the
fence line tomorrow? I’m worried that we might end up with lost cattle due to the incident in town today.  Butch has sent men out to cut the wire before, but our neighbors always let us know if some of our herd shows up there.  This time, it sounds like he might go a little bit farther.  I just don’t want to lose good stock.”

“I’ll go first light,” he agreed easily.  Of course that man would try something stupid after the confrontation in town.  He addressed Josie next. “I would appreciate it if you and Hattie avoided town until the wedding.  I know this is hard to take, but everything else can be handled by me or Ryker.”

“He’s right Josie,” Ryker cut in when Josie started to protest.

“I don’t like killing unless I have to,” Cogan explained.  “Today wouldn’t have been a pleasant sight if I pulled my gun.  It’s not something I want you or your aunt to see.”
Then there were the townsfolk.  They would see that he was no different than Butch.  A cold blooded killer.  He kept that to himself.

“I managed fine
going to town by myself before you came,” Josie finally protested.

His determined stare met hers.
“Yes, but that was before Butch had competition.  Now he knows I’m formidable.  It doesn’t suit him well.  Also, he has four men perched on the roofs of the buildings in town keeping watch for him.”

“
What?”
Josephine didn’t see anyone.

“Two on the hotel, one on the pos
t office, and another on the Saloon.  With those positions they can see everyone coming and going from town. He knows everyone’s business Josie. He’ll know the exact moment you show up.  The next time he corners you, it won’t end well.”

“What do you mean, the next time?” Hattie asked. 

Josephine blushed and quickly mumbled something downplaying what really happened. Yet, now she knew why he pulled her back from the window earlier.  The hotel was across the street.  Deep down she was hoping he was showing some possessiveness because of the kiss she gave Gus for his bravery. Her heart sank a little more. “How did you know that?”

“I have a good eye for things like that
. Now, next month we’ll be married.  Things will be more dangerous in town until then.”

She pursed her lips thinking of this.  He actually had a point.  She also knew that Father Sampson though
t her capable of looking after herself too, but he completely interfered and there had to be a significant reason for him to do so. “I feel like a prisoner.”

“I know it doesn’t suit you Josie,” said Ryker.  “It certainly doesn’t suit any of us.” He took a deep breath feeling emotion rise.  If he were to lose his sister, he would lose his sanity.  She held the family to
gether even when he was absent on the range, and now when recovering from near death injuries.

“If I may interrupt,” Hattie spoke as she stood up and began gathering empty dishes.  “I would prefer that you men shot people out of my eyesight. I was never one for violence.”  She then turned her attention to Josie. “And you
, young Miss, need to act more like a lady.  Shooting guns and such,” she clucked her tongue. She then turned with her arms full and left the room.

Josie’s mouth dropped.  Hattie never mentioned anything along
those lines before.  Ryker actually laughed.  “I fail to see the humor.”

He waved an arm at her. “You are dressed like a—”

“—Ryker if you dare,
I
will shoot you!” Yes, she came home and changed out of her nice gown into pants and a loose western cut shirt that was too big for her. Her hair was pulled back into a braid and from a distance, she knew she looked like a homeless orphan.  The whale bone corsets wouldn’t let her breathe so she found the loosest thing possible. Yet, she still had her pride.  However, that didn’t stop her from blushing to her toes when Cogan looked at her with a glint of humor in his eyes.  She never even thought that she was less ladylike until her brother pointed it out.  She was raised without a mother and sandwiched between two brothers. She was also so comfortable just being herself at home, that she never even thought how she looked to the opposite sex. In all the effort of trying to get Cogan to notice her, it was as if she just eliminated all of it.  She usually never had a problem getting male attention either.  It was ironic that the only male attention she wanted was becoming a struggle to gain and her current state of dress became increasingly appalling. “Excuse me,” she mumbled, grabbed her plate and near stumbled from the room.  She could hear male laughter chase her out.  Well, she’d show them.  She could be a lady at all times!

***

Butch was on the rise of the hill above the Hamilton ranch peering through a pair of binoculars from the back of his horse. He went out there to help him contemplate his next move.  So, for the past half hour, that’s where he sat. His outward expression didn’t show much, but the constant clenching of his jaw indicated he was still in a rage over the news. Like hell he’d let that man touch Josephine Hamilton first.