Devils on Horseback: Gideon, Book 5 (20 page)

As she’d done as a child, Chloe laid her head on her grandmother’s chest and listened to the beat of her heart. It had always been a comforting place to be, where she felt most safe and loved. Now there were mere minutes, seconds, left to spend with her. A bucket of memories squeezed into a drop she couldn’t hold on to. It was slipping through her fingers with every passing moment.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Silence.

Granny slipped away without a sound. The end of a life so full, so amazing. Soul-wrenching pain roared through Chloe at the thought of facing the rest of her life without the woman who had shaped it. She opened her mouth and let loose a howl of pain so powerful it made the wagon boards above her shake.

Gideon woke to the sound of an animal screaming in anguish. He was on his feet outside the wagon in seconds, shirtless, barefoot but with his gun drawn. The other four Devils were also armed and awake. They all looked at each other and waited for the sound to repeat. The scream came again, and Gideon recognized the voice immediately.

“Chloe!” He dropped to his knees and crawled beneath the wagon.

Chloe cradled Granny in her arms, rocking back and forth. Her face shone wet in the meager light. His heart dropped to his feet when he realized the old woman was dead.

“What happened?”

“He killed her. That man I killed, he kicked her until her belly broke. I should have killed him twice, made him suffer longer.” Her ragged words came from deep inside a well of pain. “She knew she was dying, dammit, and didn’t say anything about it.”

He crept closer, trying to determine exactly what to do. “Oh, honey, I’m sorry.” The words were inadequate. He knew her pain, felt his own at the loss of the old woman. She had played such a part of him finding and falling for Chloe.

“We have to bury her proper. I’m not leaving her out here all alone.” She cupped her grandmother’s cheek with the gentlest touch. “Without her, I’d be nothing.”

Gideon wanted to take her pain away, to erase the naked grief on her face. “We will take her to Tanger, if it’s all right with you.”

She nodded. “I need to get her cleaned up. Covered in your own shit ain’t no way to be buried.” Chloe crawled out from under the wagon, then turned to drag her grandmother’s body out on the blanket.

Gideon made a move to help her, and she snarled at him. He held up his hands, knowing she had to do what she had to do. One thing Chloe had in abundance was pride, which she had in common with him. The other Devils cleared a path for her as she dragged and tugged her burden out. Her breath came in bursts as she worked, the weight of the small woman not much less than her own. Hazel and Martha jumped out of the wagon and tried to help Chloe move Granny.

“That’s a helluva woman you got there, Gid,” Jake said under his breath.

The men could only stand by, feeling helpless at the painful sight of the three small figures and the tragedy that had once again reared its ugly head and bitten the Ruskin family.

Gideon rose and gathered the canteens. He watched as Chloe and the girls struggled with their burden, knowing they grieved with each step they took. They stopped near the fire where Chloe could see what she was doing. He emptied the canteens into the pot they had purchased and brought it to her along with his neckerchief. Nate appeared with a clean blanket.

Like a silent, tragic dance, the men stood while Chloe cleaned her grandmother, the girls sitting by her side. She then wrapped her frail, lifeless body in the blanket. It was a requiem for Granny.

* * * * *

Chloe was numb. She drove the team without thinking about what she was doing, unable to let herself think because then she would feel. Gideon told her they were less than a day’s ride from Tanger, and the minutes passed by with excruciating slowness. She couldn’t focus on anything but the loss of her grandmother and the anchor she had relied on all her life.

Gideon rode in the back of the wagon with the girls. He’d wanted to ride with her, but she refused to let him re-injure himself. Besides, she needed time alone, and given that she was traveling with seven other people, it was the best she could get.

She had promised Granny she would hold on to the happiness in front of her, but right about then, it was too hard to think about it.

“There it is.” Gideon appeared behind her, his arm outstretched, pointing in the distance.

The sun had just set behind them, washing the town in a bluish gray color. It looked peaceful and normal, like a town should. No big graveyards or burned-out hulking buildings or salted fields. A welcoming sight, enough that her cloud of misery began to lift.

“Where do you live?”

“Above the restaurant. It’s that yellow building there.” He gestured to a two-story building that was newer looking than other ones in town.

She didn’t know if she was excited or not, but the girls sure were. They whooped and jumped up and down until Gideon told them to stop before they fell out of the wagon. They listened to him right away, and Chloe remembered just how lucky she was to have him.

Within half an hour, they were driving down the main street in Tanger. People stopped and waved at them as they passed. Many folks called the men by name, and all were friendly. Even some fancy woman stepped out of a saloon marked Aphrodite’s and shouted to them.

“About time you fellas came back. It was getting mighty boring without the Blackwoods.” She winked at Zeke, and to Chloe’s surprise, she thought she saw him blush.

“Lucy, you leave him alone now.” A blonde and very pregnant woman stood outside the jail, spearing the fancy woman with a glare.

“I ain’t touched him, Naomi. He’s all yours.” With a flounce of her hair—in a shade of red that wasn’t God-given—the woman disappeared back into the saloon.

Zeke looked at Gideon, then at Naomi.

“Go ahead. We can do what needs to be done.” Gideon glanced at Chloe. “It’s his wife.”

“I figured.”

There was a squeal behind them as Zeke reached his wife. The sound was one of joy, and it echoed through Chloe’s heart. What kind of town was this? People were friendly and happy—it defied reason for her. She’d never lived in such a place. Maybe she had died right along with Granny and this was heaven.

She stopped the wagon in front of Elmer’s Restaurant and set the brake. She’d journeyed from one end of life to another and was so exhausted she didn’t think she could get out of the wagon by herself. Gideon solved that problem by plucking her from the seat and setting her on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant. He kissed her forehead and went back for the girls.

“If you don’t mind, Chloe, Nate and I can take your grandmother to the undertaker.” Jake had climbed into the wagon seat. “We can bring back whatever you need for tonight from the wagon.”

Chloe nodded her thanks and held back the tears that threatened. There would be plenty of time for more grieving when they buried her grandmother. Now Chloe needed to take care of herself.

“Much obliged, Jake. Talk to Gabby and see if the girls can stay at the mill with you. I know they’d love to visit with Rebecca.” Gideon squatted down to talk to the girls. “After supper, Uncle Jake is gonna bring you over to meet his little boy. He’s only a baby, but I know you will have fun with him.”

The girls nodded, their blonde braids bouncing with the movement.

Just like that, Gideon and his friends had taken care of everything. For once, Chloe was glad to have someone else make decisions for her.

There were a few diners in the restaurant who said hello to the Blackwoods as the group sat at a table by the window. Lee disappeared into the kitchen and reappeared only a few minutes later with two others carrying plates piled high with meat, mashed potatoes and greens. They all dug in as if they hadn’t eaten in years.

Chloe focused on the food and filling her belly, rather than on anything else. A feeling of peace crept its way into her heart, and by the time she had finished eating, she felt better in body and spirit.

Gideon spoke softly to the girls, and they went into the kitchen with Lee, leaving Chloe alone with her future husband. He took her hand and kissed the back, his lips warm against her skin. She closed her eyes at the sensation. It was one she could definitely get used to.

“Are you all right?”

She managed to nod. “Sometimes I still feel the wagon moving under me. I spent months on that seat.”

He squeezed her hands. “Your journey is over now. You’re home.”

Chloe stared into his beautiful eyes and saw the love there shining just for her. Granny was right. Chloe had everything she needed or wanted right here. She was home.

* * * * *

The sun was barely above the horizon when the Blackwoods gathered in the cemetery. Granny’s burial was well attended since the Devils numbered fourteen with wives and children included. Gideon was proud of Chloe’s strength, how she said goodbye to her Granny and took care of the girls during the ceremony. Reverend Conley presided, speaking prayers over her and arranging for the grave and coffin.

“Miss Ruskin, do you want to say a few words?”

Chloe nodded and stepped forward. She wore a dark blue dress Lee’s wife, Genny, had given her. They were about the same size, and Genny was a genius with a sewing needle. Gideon didn’t tell Chloe that Genny had made it the night before especially for her. She would have refused it, given her healthy dose of pride. She looked beautiful in it, and he’d need to tell her that later.

“Granny was a good woman. She didn’t always make good choices, but sometimes they were the best kind.” She met Gideon’s gaze, and he saw his future staring back at him. “I know she’d love this town and you folks too. I’m sorry you didn’t all know her like I did. The sun ain’t shining as bright today now that she’s gone, but I know she’s looking down on me, telling me to hurry it up.”

A few people chuckled, and Chloe smiled shakily. “Thank you folks for everything you done.” She picked up a handful of dirt and threw it on the pine coffin. “I love you, Granny.”

The girls mimicked what she had done, their little hands tossing a tiny bit of dirt. Both of them added a scrap of blue ribbon in too. His throat got tight at the memory of the last two weeks and how his life had completely changed. For the good, this time.

He pulled Chloe under his arm, and the girls each grabbed one of his legs. However awkward it was to walk, they made their way back to the restaurant for breakfast. They had closed it that morning to give the Ruskins a chance to grieve and, he hoped, a chance to get to know their new family.

Reverend Conley was only a few minutes behind him. “Gideon.”

He turned to see Cindy Cooley hovering behind the young minister and wondered exactly what was happening. “Go on inside, girls, I’ll be right there.” He kissed Chloe quickly. “Love you.”

She frowned at him but took the girls in to eat.

Gideon turned back to the couple. “Thank you for everything, Greg.” He handed him a twenty-dollar gold piece. “This should be enough to cover all expenses.”

“Ridiculous, of course. I won’t take it.” Greg tried to hand it back, but Gideon held up his hands.

“Think of it as a donation to the church, then.” He grinned as the brown-haired younger man tucked it in his pocket.

“Thank you for your generosity, then.” Greg looked behind him and pulled Cindy forward. “I just wanted you to be the first to know that Cindy has agreed to marry me.”

Gideon should have been surprised, but he wasn’t. Cindy had hidden in the mill for a couple years, since the Devils rescued her from the men who had kidnapped and done unspeakable harm to her. She was part-owner in the restaurant her grandfather had started but hadn’t stepped foot in it since Gideon and Lee took on running it.

“Congratulations. That’s wonderful! I have news of my own too. I’m marrying Chloe Ruskin.” Gideon’s smile was so wide it made his cheeks hurt. The pleasure of saying it out loud was just too much to contain though.

“I never expected it to happen so quickly, but you Blackwoods find a mate and that’s that.” Greg grinned back at him.

“Cindy, I’m happy for you.” Gideon held out his hand. To his surprise, Cindy took it, and he pulled her into a brief hug. “You deserve to be happy.”

She stepped back and offered him a small smile.

“Couldn’t be better news.” Gideon handed her back to Greg. “Will you join us for breakfast?”

Cindy looked in the window and hesitantly nodded. Greg took her hand with a wide grin. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

When Gideon entered the restaurant, he saw his family, his friends, and then he glanced at Chloe. Her curls stuck up every which way, her eyes were puffy and her face tear-stained. She’d never looked more beautiful to him. As he took her into his arms, the simple joy of hugging the woman he loved made his eyes prick with tears.

* * * * *

Chloe stepped into Gideon’s room, the twilight making everything a shadowed gray. She’d slept there the night before, wrapped in his arms, but had been too tired to notice her surroundings. He was downstairs cleaning the restaurant. Most men didn’t clean, so it was definitely something she could get used to. Hazel and Martha had gone home with Jake and his beautiful tall wife Gabriella. The twins had taken a shine to the baby, Rebecca, and Chloe knew they were in good hands.

Chloe looked around the room, snooping a bit. Gideon didn’t have much in terms of personal things. There were a few books, his pistols and rifle, some clothes hanging on hooks. Nothing else marked this room as his, almost as if he was simply staying there instead of living there.

“Pretty sparse, isn’t it?” His voice startled her, and she yelped. “Sorry, honey. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“You didn’t scare me, just gave me a start.” She pressed her hand to her heart. “You are the quietest big man I ever met.”

He shrugged. “Habit.”

She knew he was talking about the war, but she didn’t want to go any further in that conversation. Today was a day about moving on, not staying in the past. Chloe started unbuttoning the pretty blue dress Genny had given her. Lee’s wife was the most similar in size and background as Chloe, and she liked her quite a bit. In fact, she liked all of the Blackwoods and knew she was lucky to have found them.