Much Ado About Marshals (Hearts of Owyhee) (2011) (40 page)

“He didn’t look crippled to me. I saw him at the picnic.”

“He gets around, but you can’t do a man’s work with a stiff leg.”

“I think he can do a lot more than you give him credit for, and I also think he wants to be his own man. You need to let him live his life the way he wants to. Does he enjoy ranching?”

“No. He worked in the mines until they shut down, then he was studying to be a lawyer, of all things. He couldn’t afford to go back to school after he was married, though.”

They fell silent. She may hate him forever, but he’d been honest with her—finally. He only hoped she’d at least consider his suit. They stood there several minutes, then Daisy indicated she’d like to sit. No sooner did they get settled, but what she wanted to stand up again.

“What’s wrong, Daisy?”

“I, uh, need to use the privy.”

Cole looked around but didn’t see a bucket. Hell, it wouldn’t have been suitable for a lady, anyway. Come to think of it, he had to go, too. “Sid!” he called, not knowing if the new marshal was there or not.

“Yup?”

“Uh, the lady needs to tend to her duties.”

Cole heard the rattle of jail keys, then Sid ambled in and leaned on the doorway. “Are you going to be married with Sarah and me?”

Daisy squirmed a bit, and Cole knew this was no time for discussion. “Sid, she really has to go. Me, too, as a matter of fact.”

“The judge says neither of you leaves this cell until you come to your senses.” He picked up a bucket, unlocked the door and passed the bucket through, the relocked the cell.

Daisy looked horrified. “I can’t go in that.”

Cole thought fast. The only way the judge would let them out was if she agreed to marry him—which she seemed willing enough to do twenty-four hours before. “I love you, Daisy Gardner.” He brushed a tendril from her cheek. “Do you think you could feel the same about me again?”

She bowed her head, a tear nearly spilling from her eye. He hated himself for hurting her, but hoped beyond all reason she’d forgive him. Finally, she nodded, and his heart pounded with hope.

He got down on one knee. “Daisy, I’m just a rancher, but I love you with all my heart and all my soul. Would you consent to be Mrs. Cole Richards?”

“How can I be a detective on a ranch?”

His spirits plunged, but he still had hope. “I don’t know, but you can fingerprint the cowhands, our kids, the chickens—even the cook.”

“Cook?”

“Well, yeah. After sampling your biscuits I think we best hire a cook.”

She laughed through her tears, and his heart leapt. “You’re a good man, Cole.”

His name sounded like heaven coming from her lips. “Will you marry me?”

“Yes.”

He sprang to his feet and kissed her full on the mouth, then asked, “And not just because you have to go to the privy?”

“Well, there is that, especially after the one-armed squeeze you just gave me. But yes, I love you, too, I do want to be your wife, and I want you to be my husband.”

“Sid,” he bellowed, “get in here and unlock this cell. We’re nearly late for our wedding!”

Sid unlocked the door, unlocked the cuffs, and they practically ran over him getting outside.

Epilogue

Judge Glover had dropped all charges on Daisy and Cole. The double wedding took place promptly at five o’clock. Cole thought he’d died and gone to heaven when he’d seen Daisy in her stunning, white silk gown. She held a bouquet of wildflowers, befitting of her spirit.

At the end of their vows, the judge asked both couples to face the guests and announced, “I introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. Cole Richards, and Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Adler.” Everyone, including Cole and Sidney, applauded. Cole thought his heart would burst from the pure joy of having Daisy for his wife, and he was sure
Sidney
felt the same about Sarah.

The reception was held in the livery, where Mrs. Nafsinger and Mr. Curtis played joyful music for the dance. At the crowd’s urging, Cole played a couple of songs on his harmonica, then stepped off the stage and reclaimed his beautiful bride.

“You’ve danced with enough men. The rest of the dances are mine.”

She blew in his ear, and he nearly threw her over his shoulder and carted her off. But then her mother announced it was time for Daisy to throw the bouquet. She did, with great flair. The bouquet flew past Mrs. Proctor who tried her best, but couldn’t reach it. Iris, the avowed spinster, caught it. Cole laughed. Daisy elbowed him in the ribs. Sarah threw hers. Aunt Grace caught it, and Henry kissed her cheek.

Bosco, grinning like a coyote over fresh kill, meandered over to Cole and Daisy. He had a piece of cake in one hand and Mrs. Proctor’s cinnamon bun in the other. “I tell you, Cole, this here town knows how to lay out a spread. Yes, sirree!” He glanced at Mrs. Courtney, who carried a plate of raisin pie. “Uh oh, gotta go.” He stuffed the cinnamon bun in his mouth and hurried to her—or the raisin pie—Cole wasn’t sure which.

Thomas and Etta came by to offer their congratulations. Then he said, “Hey, little brother, I have a wedding gift for you.” He shrugged. “Well, it’s really not a gift, since it was yours in the first place.” He handed Cole a thick envelope. “It’s the money from the ranch. I took the money for my half of the cattle. That’s the money from the land, plus your half of the herd.”

“You sold the ranch?”

“Yup, I came here to ask you about it, but you didn’t want to talk. Too busy with other things, I guess.” He winked at Daisy. “Anyway, I got a good offer, more than I thought the place was worth, really, so I paid off all the bills and split the rest. Etta and I are moving to
Boise
City
. A lawyer up there wants me to apprentice with him. I’ll be a clerk for a few years while I take classes, then I’ll have my own practice.”

Cole was stunned.

“And to thank you for all you’ve done for us, I bought that little house at the edge of town for you.” He handed Cole another envelope. “Here’s the deed. The place needs a lot of work, but it’s a start.”

Cole was speechless.

“Take the envelope, Cole,” Daisy urged.

He took it, then hauled his big brother in a bear hug. “Thanks.”

Thomas turned to Daisy. “Your father helped me move your things into the house. Your mother and sister and Etta have spent the whole day cleaning and arranging.” He patted Cole on the back. “There’s even a bed all made up.”

Cole swooped Daisy up and cradled her in his arms. “Let’s go see our new house.

“Hold up there, Cole!”
Sidney
said as he and Sarah blocked their path to the door. “There’s another order of business that has to be settled. The Owyhee County Sheriff resigned because of ill health a few months ago, and they haven’t found a replacement yet. Judge Glover asked me to take that position, and I’ve agreed.”

Cole nodded. And not that Daisy was all that heavy, but his arms were starting to tire and he needed to save his strength for more interesting activities.

He took a couple of steps toward the door, when Judge Glover blocked his way. “Cole, Mayor Gardner asked me to remind you that you are still the duly sworn marshal of Oreana, and it’s only fitting that you ought to wear your badge when you’re in public.” He pinned the badge on Cole’s chest, avoiding Daisy as best he could. “I’d shake your hand, but I see it’s occupied. I’m happy to have met you, Marshal Richards.” He nodded at Daisy. “Congratulations, Mrs. Richards.”

Cole was nearly speechless. Never would he have imagined that Oreana still wanted him as their marshal. Well, hell, a marshal needed a deputy. “Bosco!”

Bosco waved at him from across the room, then made his way over to Cole. “What?” he said, cheeks bulging with food.

“Make sure you wear your badge in public, deputy.”

Bosco swallowed, then hollered and slapped his knee. “Yes, sirree!” He took the badge out of his vest pocket, then spat on it and shined it with his shirtsleeve before pinning it on. He puffed out his chest. “Looks purty good there, don’t it?”

Daisy gave Cole a big squeeze and whispered in his ear, “Let’s go home, marshal. I have some prints to show you.”

~
♥ ~

Thanks for reading Much Ado About Marshals (♥ Hearts of Owyhee ♥ #1).  Reviews are welcome!   Please click on
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There’s more
in the
Hearts of Owyhee
se
ries!

Much Ado About Madams
(♥ Hearts of
Owyhee
♥ #2)

* A story this good can only come from the imagination of Jacquie Rogers *

~ Detra Fitch, Huntress Reviews

Much
Ado
About Mavericks ( ♥ Hearts of
Owyhee
♥ #3)

Check it out—Mélange Publishing says any day now!

And you might also enjoy this HOT western historical romance by Taylor Lee:

Struck by Thunder

1890: In a world marked by corruption, prejudice an
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But be warned:" Struck by Thunder" isn't for the faint of heart. The language is rough, the sex explicit, and the fighting ferocious. For readers who want their romance as hot as the story is riveting, this book is a "don't miss!"

Author’s Note

Yes, I played fast and loose with the geography in
Owyhee County
,
Idaho
in Much Ado About Marshals
. Oreana isn’t on the way to
Silver
City
from Murphy, or between Sinker Creek and
Silver
City
, for that matter. That’s the way of fiction, though. If a town isn’t in the right spot, the writer can move it.

I’m not sure if Oreana had stagecoach service or not, but the stage did run from Murphy, the town north of Oreana, west to
Silver
City
. In 1885,
Silver
City
was the
Owyhee County Seat
, but now Murphy is. Murphy
boasts
a county courthouse, a parking meter, a museum, a gas station/store, and an airport.

Agriculture is still the basis of the economy—mostly ranching in the hilly portion of the county, and farming in the valleys. The mines at
Silver
City
and surrounding area have long played out, with only a few still in operation.

The general store that I used for
Gardner
’s Mercantile was built “in the late 1800s” so probably didn’t exist in 1885, but close enough for literary license. The stone structure is now beautifully restored and is Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church. Mass is held once a month. Search for “Oreana church” on the internet and you’ll see a picture of it.

The musicians at the barn dance were the musicians at the dances held at the Stateline Grange when I was a kid, and close friends of our family. I used their names because of the many hours of joy they brought to our community. I wonder if they knew how important they were to so many of us.