The Bride's Prerogative (108 page)

“So where are all these road agents you whipped?” Ethan asked. “Down to Democrat’s,” Bitsy said. “Two living and three killed.” Ethan looked them over solemnly. “You folks all right?”

“We’re fine,” Hiram said. “One of the passengers was grazed, but he wanted to go on to Nampa.”

“Griffin and Vashti both need to see Doc when we get home,” Libby said.

Trudy rode Crinkles around the wagon. When she came close, Vashti reached out and petted the mare’s nose, glad to see Trudy’s mount had been returned to her.

“You sure you’re all right?” Trudy asked.

“Scrapes and bruises,” Vashti said. “Griffin hurt his knee, but we’ll make it.”

“I guess I’d better go on to Democrat’s,” Ethan said.

“They’ve got the prisoners locked in the corn crib,” Hiram said. “Maybe you’d better get a few men to help you take them to Boise.”

“I’ll loan you a wagon, if you want to come to the livery,” Griffin said.

“You’re not going alone to take two prisoners in.” Trudy eyed her husband sternly.

“I’ll get a couple of my deputies.” Ethan returned her stubborn look. “My male deputies. This isn’t a job for ladies.”

“For once, I’m going to agree with you,” Bitsy said. “Can we go home now?”

Two nights later, Griffin walked slowly down the street to the Spur & Saddle. He still limped, but his knee didn’t hurt so bad anymore. He went slowly up the steps and into the building. Bitsy was wiping off a table. Doc Kincaid and Isabel Fennel sat in one corner, chatting softly. Rose Caplinger lingered at a table across the room, sipping coffee with Maitland Dostie. Griffin looked, then looked again. He supposed it made sense—Rose had opened her millinery shop last year in the vacant storefront next to the telegraph office. The two must see each other every day.

Bitsy looked up and smiled. “Hello, Griff. Where’s your shadow?”

“I left Justin over to the Nashes’ playing Chinese checkers with Ben and Silas.”

Bitsy nodded. “Have you eaten?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Piece of pie, then? Coffee? Or did you just come for the company?”

Griffin smiled and glanced toward the kitchen. “I came to see one of my drivers.”

“She’s in the dishpan, as usual.”

“Is my apron hanging by the door?” Griffin asked.

She laughed and shooed him toward the kitchen. Griffin found Vashti scrubbing Augie’s saucepans.

“Evening, Griff,” Augie called. He picked up a bucket of slops and went out the back door.

Vashti smiled at him but kept on scrubbing the pan. “What brings you out?”

Griffin grabbed an apron off a hook and walked toward her. “I came to see how you were doing and if you’ll be ready to drive again Monday.”

“You mean you’d let me?”

He smiled. “I don’t think we’ll see any outlaws on the Nampa run for a while.” He held out the apron.

She took it and pulled up the neckband. Griffin stooped toward her. She slid it over his head, then leaned close and kissed his cheek.

He straightened, eyeing her closely. “What’s that for?”

“You saved my life. I’ve already been to see Hiram and thanked him personally.”

“Did you kiss him?”

Her face went scarlet. “No, I …”

Griffin laughed.

She eyed him askance and began to laugh, too. “That was just for you.” She turned back to her dishwater.

“Aren’t you going to tie my apron strings?”

“If you want.”

“Vashti …”

“Yes?”

He could look into those leaf-green eyes forever. He reached for her, and she came into his arms before he even knew what he was going to do. Her kiss was sweeter than Augie’s cinnamon rolls.

He held her close against his apron front and sighed. “You can drive anytime you want, sweetheart.”

She reached all the way around him and squeezed him tight. Griffin held her, wanting never to let go. After a while, he dared to reach up and stroke her hair. “You know I only opposed your driving because I wanted to take care of you.”

“Is that so?” Her tone held amusement.

He pulled back a little and looked down at her. “Maybe not at first. But … well, you’re a strong woman. I didn’t know how strong. But I’d still like to take care of you. For the rest of my life, if you’ll have me.”

Her lips curved into a smile. “What kind of talk is that?
If
I’ll have you.”

“I mean it.”

She shook her head. “I’m the one who’s got a load of baggage. Are you sure you can overlook everything?”

“It’s in the past. I’ll make sure it stays in the past.”

She looked away, frowning, then turned back to face him. “I never …” Tears glistened in her eyes. She cleared her throat. “I never got close to a man except those that had bad intentions.”

“Well, my intentions are honorable.”

She nodded slowly. “And you won’t make me quit driving?”

“No.” A sudden thought came to him. “Well, not unless … well, you know.” Blood rushed to his cheeks, and he wished he still had his beard to hide it. “If you were in a delicate way …”

She reached up and stroked his stubbly cheek. “I love you, Griffin Bane.”

It was the one thing he’d meant to say, but hadn’t been sure how—and now she’d said it first. “I love you, too. Can we go see the parson after services tomorrow?”

“That would be lovely.”

He kissed her again, and the dishes would have sat unwashed for hours if Augie hadn’t come in with his empty slop bucket and slammed the back door.

“Well now! Wait till Bitsy hears about this! She’ll be some tickled.”

Vashti stood beside her bridegroom in the dining room of the Spur & Saddle, ready to cut the wedding cake. Augie had outdone himself. With help from Rose Caplinger, he’d fashioned a garden of sugar roses and topped the four-tiered masterpiece with two feathery white doves.

Ethan Chapman came over near the table and raised his hands. “Folks, if I could interrupt for just a minute, I have an announcement to make.”

The murmuring quieted as everyone focused on the sheriff. Ethan looked over at Griffin, and he shrugged. Vashti took that to mean he had no idea what was going on, but he was in a mellow mood and didn’t care how many announcements people made today. The vows were said, and nothing could change that. She reached for his big hand, and he squeezed hers, smiling.

“Some of you know I got back from Boise yesterday. I delivered some prisoners to the U.S. Marshal there a few days ago. Those outlaws are two of the gang we believe held up the stagecoach twice on the Nampa run and once each on the Catherine and Silver City runs. The postal service had sent notice of a reward to the marshal before Griff Bane and Hiram Dooley caught the outlaws.”

“We had some help,” Griffin muttered.

Ethan swung around and grinned at him. “Yes, you did. In fact, I have orders to give a share of the reward to the following people: Griffin Bane, Hiram Dooley, Leo Rice, Buck Ashley—”

Arthur Tinen Jr. let out a whoop at the mention of the name of one of his cowhands. Ethan smiled and nodded at him.

“Yes, Buck was on the stage that day, and other witnesses say he acquitted himself well. The same with the drummer who was a passenger, Mr. John Sedge. The marshal will send his part to him. Also receiving a share of the reward will be Miss Georgia Edwards, Mrs. Hiram Dooley, and Mrs. Augustus Moore.”

Libby, Bitsy, and Vashti exchanged looks across the room. Hiram beamed, and Augie said, “That’s my darlin’ girl.” He gave Bitsy a loud smack on the cheek.

Griffin let go of Vashti’s hand and slid his arm around her waist. “You deserve it, Queen Vashti.”

Ethan grinned. “If each of you will please see me when it’s convenient, I’ll give you a bank draft for your share in the ten-thousand dollar reward.”

“Ten thousand!” Bitsy’s jaw dropped.

“What’s that make your share?” Augie asked.

“That’s $1,250,” yelled Justin, who had been sipping lemonade in a corner with his friends.

Ethan smiled at the boy. “That’s exactly right, and spoken by Mr. Bane’s accountant.”

Everyone laughed.

Goldie called out, “And the newlyweds get a double share.”

“That’s fittin’,” said Bitsy.

Vashti looked up into Griffin’s brown eyes. With that and the money Wells Fargo had sent for new equipment, they wouldn’t wonder where the money to keep the stage line running would come from. Griffin nodded, contentment oozing from him. She snuggled close and hugged him around the waist.

Johnny Conway stepped up beside Ethan with his driving whip in his hand. “Folks, I have an announcement, too.”

The crowd quieted.

“I know it’s not far to the happy couple’s new home,” Johnny said, “but when they’ve finished their cake and are inclined to leave this jolly gathering, Ned and I have a carriage waiting outside to carry them home.”

Griffin’s bushy eyebrows shot up. “What?”

“Take a look out the window, boss,” Ned Harmon called.

Griffin seized Vashti’s hand and strode to the front window. They both looked out at their transportation for the two-block ride home: the red and gold Concord coach, with roses twined all along the top luggage rack and tucked into the horses’ harness.

“Anytime you’re ready, just say the word, and we’ll drive you home,” Johnny said.

Vashti tugged the whip out of his hand. “Oh no, you won’t. You can ride along as far as the house if you want, but
I’m
driving.”

D
ISCUSSION
Q
UESTIONS

1. Griffin is overworked and understaffed. In short, he’s frazzled. What do you do when you feel this way?
   
2. Vashti has a dream of driving a stagecoach. She thinks she’ll be perfectly content if she gets to do this. What aspects of her life will the driving job help her to overcome? What ones can she not escape?
   
3. Griffin gives a couple of reasons for not hiring Vashti. Is it common sense or pride that makes him reject her pleas?
   
4. Are there some jobs women should not do? Explain your reasons, pro or con, for thinking that way.
   
5. Vashti at first resists dressing like a boy when riding the stagecoach. Her former positions required her to look ultra feminine. Is Griffin wrong to require this of her? She felt she would lose the job if she refused. Did she make the right choice?
   
6. Were the women right to clean Griffin’s house without his permission? If you were Trudy, how would you have handled the situation?
   
7. Vashti’s friends want to help her after the first holdup. The club members offer to ride unpaid as extra guards. Are they realistic in their expectations of what they can do to help and what the consequences might be? What things should you consider before offering your help to someone in need?
   
8. Bitsy and Augie suffer some difficult times after closing the bar at the Spur & Saddle. Honoring the Lord in practical ways isn’t always easy. Have you made hard decisions that hurt you financially? Was it worth it?
   
9. How does Griffin measure up as a single parent? What advice would you give him if you were a member of the Ladies’ Shooting Club of Fergus?
   
10. Bill’s death is a turning point in Griffin and Vashti’s relationship. How does each one grow emotionally and spiritually?
    
11. Vashti chose her name because she heard that Vashti was a beautiful queen in the Bible. How are her assumptions dashed? Should she choose another name? What did you think of Griffin’s response?
    

S
USAN
P
AGE
D
AVIS
is the author of more than thirty published novels. She’s a Carol Award Winner and a two-time winner of the Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award. In 2011, Susan was named Favorite Author of the Year in the 18th Annual Heartsong Awards. A native of Maine, she and her husband, Jim, now live in western Kentucky. Visit her website at:
www.susanpagedavis.com
.