Forever Yours
Author: Tracie Peterson
Date: 2012-03-01 00:00:00+00:00
Description: At twenty-three, Daughtry Lucas knows she will end up an old maid unless she can somehow escape her overprotective father. He refuses to trust her out of his sight, keeping all prospective suitors at a distance. A newspaper advertisement for a wife seems to offer Daughtry her only hope of escape. In a marriage by proxy, she becomes Mrs Nicholas Dawson and flees her father's ranch. Can this marriage between strangers succeed? Or will the dark strangers from Nick's past prevent Daughtry from truly being his forever?
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Incorporated

Copyright

ISBN 978-1-55748-710-0

Copyright © by Tracie Peterson. All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the permission of Truly Yours, an imprint of Barbour Publishing, Inc., PO Box 721, Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683.

All scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. niv®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

All of the characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events is purely coincidental.

Our mission is to publish and distribute inspirational products offering exceptional value and biblical encouragement to the masses.

PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.

Prologue

Riotous changes, for which the young country was already famous, ushered in the turn of the century in America. As the 1900s quickly added years and headed into their teens, a fascination grew for things mechanical and complicated. America was hungry for change and innovation, and her people were only too happy to comply.

Among those changes were some that would drastically alter the course of history. Skeptical crowds viewed automobiles and airplanes, never believing the contraptions would retire the horse and buggy. Meanwhile, the warm wonder of electric lighting spread like a fire out of control and soon engulfed the young nation. New carbonated drinks, rising hemlines, and a variety of contraptions and conveniences that baffled the mind were part of the flood that swept the country into young adulthood.

The world was, of course, not without its problems. Racial hatred ran rampant, especially in larger cities in the East. Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” was stolen in August of 1911 and not recovered until two years later. And in 1912, the nation mourned in stunned dismay the sinking of the Titanic.

In an almost frantic frenzy, Americans pressed forward at such an alarming rate that old-timers questioned the sanity of those younger. Where would it all lead? And how could it possibly be good?

In the unspoiled innocence of the recently admitted state of New Mexico, things were no different from the rest of the country. A hunger was growing for the wealth and wonder of all that their sister states enjoyed. Perhaps the old-timers weren’t panting for change like the younger citizens, and maybe the natives looked with contempt on the destruction that always accompanied progress. But in the growing town of Bandelero, New Mexico, the children of its founders were now coming of age, and with this came bold ideals for the years to come.

Chapter 1

Daughtry!”

“In here, Daddy!” a young, auburn-haired woman called. She finished cleaning the hoof she held between her slender, jean-clad legs before making any move to greet her father.

Garrett Lucas bounded into the stable with a look of determined frustration on his face. Now in his mid-fifties, Garrett was still lean and muscular from his years of ranch work. His hair was a salt and pepper brown that he fondly told his children was growing whiter by the minute due to their antics.

“Where have you been?” he asked.

Daughtry patted the back of her horse Poco and moved to put away her grooming equipment. “Daddy, you know very well that I ride before breakfast every single morning. Then I come back here and see to Poco, just like you taught me.”

Relief crossed Garrett’s face before he nodded to his daughter. “I think you ought to have one of the hands ride out with you,” he advised. “Or at least you could ask one of your brothers.”

“Daddy! I’m twenty-three years old. When are you going to realize that I’m fully capable of taking care of myself?” Daughtry’s voice betrayed the frustration she felt with her father’s constant overshadowing protection.

“Just because you’re grown doesn’t mean I stop worrying about you,” Garrett offered by way of apology.

Daughtry sighed and brushed the dirt from her pants. “I know and I’m glad you love me, but I have to have some room to breathe. You have one of the largest ranches in New Mexico to run, so why not concentrate on that and let me go my own way?” Daughtry paused and looked at her father seriously. “Sometimes you and the boys are just more than I care to deal with. I don’t know how Mother stands it.”

Garrett grinned. “I keep your mother too busy to worry about it. Besides, she likes my keepin’ an eye on her.”

“Well,” Daughtry said, coming forward to place a quick kiss on her father’s cheek, “I’m not Mother.”

She walked past her father and kept moving toward the adobe-styled ranch house. For all her life Piñon Canyon Ranch had been her home, and all her memories, both good and bad, were enclosed by its boundaries. Now, it seemed more like a prison. The world was changing out there, but here, time seemed to stand still. Her family didn’t have electricity, telephones, or automobiles, and often Daughtry had the dreadful feeling that life was passing her by.

“I wish you wouldn’t wear your brother’s clothes,” Garrett said from behind her.

Daughtry stopped in her tracks and turned, and her father quickly covered the distance between them. She fixed an expression on her face that she hoped would prove her determination. They’d argued this before, but she was willing to argue it again.

Garrett sighed. “Okay, I give up. Wear jeans when you work around the ranch. But I better never catch you wearing them into town. They’re too revealing, and I won’t have every guy there drooling and following you around.”

Daughtry laughed. “Oh, Daddy. You are impossible. No man is ever going to drool over me, because you’re always two steps behind or in front of me. No gentleman can get close enough to ask my name, much less ogle me.”

“Good,” Garrett said, putting his arm around his daughter. “Let’s keep it that way.”

❧

Inside the ranch house, a flurry of activity was managing to create absolute chaos. This was typical of breakfast at the Lucas table, and Maggie Lucas took it all in stride. Maggie was still a fine-looking woman, with a shapely figure and dark auburn hair, and Daughtry so closely resembled her mother that people often mistook them at a quick glance.

When her husband and daughter came into the dining room, arm in arm, Maggie couldn’t help but smile. Then, just as quickly, a frown crossed her face as she caught sight of her daughter’s grim expression. Garrett was obviously making himself a pest again.

Maggie knew why, but it didn’t help matters any. Her own heartfelt grief at the loss of their daughter Julie, almost four years earlier, caused her to sympathize with her husband. When Julie had ridden out on a cold December morning, no one thought that only hours later she would lie dead at the bottom of an icy ravine. Her horse had lost its footing, and Garrett had never forgiven himself for letting Julie ride out alone. Truth be told, Garrett had never stopped blaming himself for the tragedy and had become incessantly more preoccupied with Daughtry’s safety. Indeed, his concern had rapidly approached a level of grief all its own, for he knew his inability to protect Daughtry from all of life’s many dangers. His grief and frustration threatened to drive Daughtry away from her father and their home.

Daughtry’s brothers swarmed around the room. Dolan and Don were arguing, as was typical for the seventeen-year-old twins. Joseph, sixteen, was trying to snag pieces of food off the plates as Anna Maria and Pepita hurried around the table to avoid his reach, and fifteen-year-old Jordan, Jordy to everyone except when he was in trouble, was reading as he walked. No doubt another western. Jordy loved to read them and point out the inaccuracies. There was only one author he held any esteem for and that was Zane Grey.

Finally, Gavin, the oldest of the boys at twenty-one, entered, gave his mother a peck on the cheek, whirled her in a circle, more to clear her out of his way than anything, and took his seat at the table.

“I’m starved!” Gavin fairly roared, then grinned up at his mother who was shaking her head at him.

“Well, if we can get everyone to take a seat,” Maggie said, “we’ll have breakfast.” Nearly in unison, four boys took their seat, leaving Garrett and Daughtry standing.

“Well, come on Sis, Dad,” Gavin said, reaching out to take hold of his mother’s hand. “Let’s pray and eat.”

Garrett took his place at the head of the table, while Daughtry went to sit across from her mother. Everyone joined hands, while Garrett blessed the food. When his brief prayer ended, the chaos which had existed earlier died away to civility and calm. Maggie Lucas would tolerate no rowdiness at her table.

Daughtry picked at her food, while all around her, her brothers ate as though they were starving. She was hungry, or at least had been until that morning’s episode with her father. How could she ever get him to stop worrying that she was going to die tragically like her sister?

“Aren’t you hungry?” Maggie asked her softly.

Six pairs of eyes followed their mother’s gaze to see what Daughtry’s response would be. Sometimes, she felt as though she held the entire ranch hostage, awaiting her answers. But most of the time, Daughtry felt like she was the hostage.

“I’m fine,” she muttered under her breath and continued to pick at the biscuits and gravy on her plate.

“We’ve got a heap of work cut out for us today,” Garrett was telling his sons, and Daughtry let her mind wander, knowing that this would keep everyone occupied for a spell.

Why can’t I just get away from here? Her mind reeled at the unspoken question. What she wouldn’t give to leave Piñon Canyon. At least for a little while. I’ve never even been out of New Mexico, she thought. There’s a whole world out there that I only know from magazines and books. Will I ever see it? Will I ever be able to enjoy the things other people do? She was twenty-three years old. An old maid by some standards, not that her father cared. If he had his way about it, she’d stay unmarried and lonely until her dying day.

The boys all seemed to be talking at once, and Daughtry nearly laughed out loud at the thought of being lonely. How could anyone claim such a feat in this house? she wondered. But she was. She was lonely and bored and unhappy with her life. She prayed about it often. She read her Bible. She even sought the advice of their longtime family friend, Pastor David Monroe, but nothing seemed to help.

David had suggested she mingle more with people her own age, but every time she tried to do just that, her father would come looking for her. She’d hoped that after a little time had passed and the pain of Julie’s death had dimmed, her father and brothers wouldn’t be quite so possessive of her. But, if anything, it was more of a problem than ever.

What made matters even worse was that Daughtry and Julie had never been that close—and now Daughtry felt as though her sister was to blame for all her misery. That only managed to add guilt to the loneliness and frustration that already smothered Daughtry.

I miss her too, Daughtry thought. Even if we didn’t see things eye to eye, she was my sister, and I loved her. Daughtry looked around her at the family she cared for more than anything or anyone. I love them all, she argued with her heart. But they’re killing me!

“What are you going to do today, Daughtry?”

“Huh?” Daughtry’s mind fumbled to recall the question.

Garrett seemed undaunted. “I was just asking what you had planned to do today?”

“Oh,” Daughtry said and glanced at Maggie. “I guess Mother and I are going to finish sewing our dresses for the fair.”

Garrett nodded. “Sounds like a good idea. The fair’s in two days and I wouldn’t want my favorite ladies to show up looking shoddy.”

Maggie rolled her eyes. “You wouldn’t care if we wore potato sacks, as long as you had one of us on either side of you.”

The boys snickered, but Daughtry didn’t. Her mother spoke the truth. Except maybe dressing in potato sacks was pushing the boundaries a bit.

“I guess you’re right,” Garrett said with a smile and leaned over to place a kiss on his wife’s temple. “I’d go anywhere with you, Mrs. Lucas, and you could indeed be wearing potato sacks and still outshine everybody else.” His gaze betrayed his pride and passion for the woman at his side.

“Well, I for one will not be wearing potato sacks,” Maggie replied. “Nor will Daughtry. We have some very special dresses planned. You just wait. There won’t be an eligible bachelor in town who won’t sit up and take notice of our daughter.”

“Not that it would do any good,” Daughtry said before she could check the thought.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Garrett questioned. All eyes turned once more to her for an answer.

Daughtry pushed back her chair and got to her feet. “It means just what you think it means. No one is going to look at me twice because my daddy might take offense at their forwardness and put them in their place. And if not him, then one of the mighty Lucas brothers. I’m so tired of being treated like I’m five years old. Did it ever once dawn on any of you that I’d like to meet a nice young man, fall in love, and move away from here?”

Everyone stared at Daughtry in surprise. She had never before given such an outburst of criticism for what they perceived as their dutiful love for her.

“Daughtry!” her mother gasped. “You apologize to your father and brothers, this minute.”

Daughtry leaned against her chair and considered the situation for a moment.

“Sorry,” she muttered and turned to leave. Stalking down the hall, she added in a whisper for her ears alone, “Sorry that I live in this house and will probably die in this house too!”

❧

When the boys had finished with breakfast, leaving their parents alone, Maggie couldn’t help but try to ease the tension between her husband and daughter.

“Daughtry does have a small point,” Maggie began. She tenderly ran her fingers across the back of Garrett’s hand. “She is grown up and does deserve to settle down with her own husband and family.”

Garrett’s eyes flashed anger, as though Maggie’s declaration was one of betrayal. “I just want to see her with the kind of man who’s going to respect her and love her. He needs to know what’s going on with this world and how to make a living that will support her. You’ve never taken her side over mine before. Why now?”

Maggie sighed. “I’m not taking sides, Garrett. It’s just that I see something in Daughtry these last few months that worries me. I’m afraid if you don’t find a way to work it out, Daughtry will put a permanent wall between the two of you. You don’t want that, Garrett. You’ve already lost one daughter.”

Garrett stormed from the table without another word. Maggie stared after him for a moment, tears brimming in her eyes. “Help him, Father,” she prayed. “Help Garrett to heal before it’s too late.”

Chapter 2

Daughtry remained silent on the ride into town. The growing community of Bandelero was overflowing with people due to the fair, and Daughtry tried to put her feelings behind her and smile. At least she was away from the ranch and she was wearing something pretty.

She glanced down at the lavender dress she’d helped to make. It had a pleated bodice with hand embroidery and lace to edge the scooped neckline. At the waist, a darker lavender ribbon trimmed the gown and tied in the back to show off her very feminine form. Outlandishly gaudy hats were the rage these days, but Maggie and Daughtry had found little use for them on the ranch. Instead, they had ordered less complicated arrangements from Sears and Roebuck. Her mother predicted the simplicity would do more to turn heads, and, when it did, Daughtry could only hope that her father wouldn’t be anywhere nearby.

As Garrett brought the carriage to a halt outside of a two-story adobe house, a sudden ruckus caused the horses to rear and prance. Everybody waited for the smelly, noisy automobile to pass by before even trying to dismount.

“Useless things!” Garrett declared, finally settling the horses. “You won’t ever see me in one. I’ll stick with horses.”

“I think they look like fun,” Dolan said from the back of his horse. “I hear they actually have races with those things. They go for days and days, and people even get killed.”

“How awful!” Maggie exclaimed, taking her husband’s hand as she exited the carriage.

Daughtry stared past her brothers to the street where the car was rapidly disappearing. She silently wished that she could be one of the happy passengers.

“Daughtry, you daydreamin’ up there?”

Daughtry looked down at her father and smiled. If he only knew, she thought. As she stepped from the carriage, however, they were bombarded with friends, and she was distracted from her thoughts.

“Garrett! Maggie! I’m so glad to see you all,” Lillie Monroe called from behind a swirl of people.

“Where’s Dan?” Garrett asked, while Maggie embraced her lifelong friend.

“Had to set a broken arm,” Lillie said with a shrug. “That’s all part of being married to the town doctor. You always have to share him. I’ll be glad when he takes a partner.”

Lillie’s sons, John and James, joined them and soon were catching up the Lucas boys on all the news. Sixteen-year-old Angeline Monroe was nowhere to be seen, much to Daughtry’s relief. Angeline only reminded Daughtry how old and outdated she’d rapidly become under Garrett’s overprotective hand. Angeline was young and just beginning to live, while Daughtry felt her life was over.

“The fair is going to be a great deal of fun,” Lillie was saying, while Garrett and Maggie kept stride with her. Daughtry took advantage of the moment to slip out of sight and wander around town alone. Heaving a great sigh, she rounded the corner and ran smack into the broad chest of a stranger.

“Excuse me,” she said, looking upward into soft brown eyes.

“I’m afraid the fault is mine,” the man returned. “I just came to town for the fair and I don’t know my way around.”

Daughtry laughed. “It’s not all that difficult, believe me.”

The man smiled appreciatively. “Maybe you could show me.”

“I’m not sure that would be proper,” Daughtry said, glancing around for her father or brothers. “I don’t even know you.”

“Bill,” he replied and extended his hand. “Bill Davis.”

“Daughtry Lucas,” she replied and extended her small gloved hand to take his.

“There,” he said confidently, “now we’re no longer strangers. Would you do me the honor of introducing me to your fair city?”

Daughtry laughed, glad to be free for once. “Of course.”

The rest of the day passed much too quickly for Daughtry. She ran into Jordy once, but he seemed unconcerned that his sister was on the arm of some stranger. Later, Daughtry narrowly avoided a confrontation with Gavin, when she and Bill happened into a knot of people who stood laughing and talking, blocking the street. As the crowd thinned a bit for them to pass by, Daughtry found Angeline Monroe to be the focal point of the group. Laughing and enjoying the attention, Angeline didn’t so much as nod when she caught Daughtry’s eye.

“Do you know her?” Bill questioned after they’d managed to slip past the gathering.

“Yes,” Daughtry replied, hoping Bill wasn’t going to ask to be introduced.

“She seems awfully young to be flirting with so many men. You ought to have a talk with her folks,” Bill said, surprising Daughtry with his words.

“People have been trying to tell her folks for years,” Daughtry laughed. “But she’s very spoiled.”

“Unlike you,” Bill said, his sincerity clear in his voice. Daughtry blushed furiously but said nothing as she kept walking.

With Angeline just a memory, Daughtry cast sly upward glances at the sandy-haired man who walked beside her. He was as tall as her father, and the width of his shoulders was also nearly the same. He was dressed in jeans and a light brown shirt, but it all seemed rather regal to Daughtry. Perhaps Bill was her Prince Charming, and he would whisk her away from the stifling life she’d known.

“So how come a pretty thing like you hasn’t up and married?” Bill asked her while they walked the festive avenue of carnival games.

“Truth? Or would you rather hear some fabulously devised story?” Daughtry asked, completely serious.

Bill studied her for a moment and laughed. “Truth.”

“It won’t appeal to you,” she said, glancing around her for the millionth time.

“You looking for someone?” Bill asked her softly. “I mean, ever since this morning, you’ve been looking over your shoulder and down the street. What’s the problem?”

Daughtry sighed. “The same reason I’ve never married. I have a very possessive father—and five brothers who feel it’s their duty to fill in for him when he can’t be there to do the job.”

“I see,” Bill said, and Daughtry thought he sounded a little nervous. “Are they the killing kind or just the wounding and maiming type?”

Daughtry laughed out loud, catching the attention of several people around them. Stifling her amusement, she waited until they’d walked away from the listening crowd. “I’ve only known them to be the ranting and raving kind, actually.”

Bill grinned. “Ah, that won’t bother me then. My ears can tolerate the hollering.”

“Don’t be so sure.” Daughtry glanced at the railroad depot clock and sighed. “I’d better get back. I’ve been gone way too long.”

“I’ll walk you,” Bill said and tucked her arm around his.

Daughtry wanted to tell him no, but the truth was, she was enjoying herself too much. Maybe God had decided to smile down on her and allow her to meet a respectable young man after all.

“Daughtry, I’ve been looking for you.” Her father blocked their path, and behind him stood three of her brothers.

Garrett was frowning fiercely at Bill, and the scowl was so intimidating that the younger man immediately dropped his hold on Daughtry.

“I’ve just been seeing the sights and enjoying the fair,” Daughtry said, trying to control her temper. Then, hoping she could smooth matters, Daughtry turned to introduce her friend. “This is Bill Davis. Bill, this is my father, Garrett Lucas, and my brothers, Gavin, Dolan, and Joseph.”

Garrett was barely controlling his temper as he reached out and yanked Daughtry by the arm. “Evening, Mr. Davis. You’ll have to excuse us now.”

Daughtry was livid. Garrett continued pulling her down the street, while her brothers firmly discouraged Bill from trying to interfere.

When they were back in the solitude of the Monroe backyard, Daughtry dug her heels in and stopped.

“How dare you!” she exclaimed, and the hurt in her eyes changed quickly into rage. “I can’t believe you would embarrass me like that.”

Garrett looked at her for a moment. “Daughtry, I was only looking out for your best interest. You don’t know that man, and he had no right to be handling you.”

Daughtry shook her head. “Enough is enough. I’ve had all I’m going to take. You may be my father, but I’m of age and old enough to make my own choices. Good night!”

Garrett called after her, but Daughtry ran into the house without so much as a glance over her shoulder. She knew they were spending the night with the Monroes, but she had no idea where she was to sleep. Gratefully, she ran into her mother.

Tears were blinding her eyes, but Daughtry didn’t want to talk about it. “Mother, where am I supposed to sleep?”

Maggie noted her daughter’s state of mind. “Daughtry, what’s wrong?”

“The same old thing. Now, I just want to go to bed. Where am I sleeping?”

Maggie led her daughter to the small room she was to share with Angeline. “I’m sorry, Daughtry. I don’t know what has happened, but I hate the fact that it’s hurt you so much.” She reached out and hugged her daughter close.

Daughtry wrapped her arms around her mother and sobbed. “I can’t stand it anymore, Mother. I love you all so much, but I have to be allowed to grow up.” She abruptly released her mother and turned away. “I just want to go to sleep now, please.”

Daughtry knew that she hurt her mother when she shut her out, but she could see no sense in discussing the matter any further. Silently, she undressed and slipped into bed for a good cry before going to sleep.

❧

Morning light dawned, and Daughtry woke with a new determination and outlook on her life. During the night, after hours of praying and pleading with God, she’d decidedto run away from home. At least that’s what she called it, though she doubted that someone could actually run away at her age.Angeline still slept peacefully, and because Daughtry knew the girl had come to bed quite late, she tiptoed around the room collecting her things. After dressing and pinning up her hair, Daughtry made her way downstairs.

“Morning, Daughtry,” Lillie called to her from the kitchen. “Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, thank you.” Daughtry struggled to sound pleasant.

“Are you hungry? I’ve fixed enough food for a small army. Of course with your brothers and James and John, it very nearly resembles just that.”

Daughtry smiled. “Are Pastor David and Jenny coming over this morning?” Daughtry questioned, referring to Dr. Monroe’s brother and his wife. “I was hoping to talk to them before we left for home.”

“I think they plan to stop by,” Lillie responded. “Did you not get a chance to see them last night?”

“No,” Daughtry replied. “I didn’t.”

“Did you need to talk to them about anything in particular?”

“Yes,” Daughtry murmured, “but it’s rather, well, personal.” She thought maybe David or Jenny could offer some help or suggestions on where she could go.

Lillie smiled and nodded. “That’s quite all right, I understand.”

Within moments, the quiet talk was forgotten as the room filled with the bodies of young men all rivaling the other for the center of discussion.

Daughtry managed to slip outside with her plate of food. She ate with a ravenous appetite, suddenly remembering that she hadn’t had any supper the night before.

“I brought you a peace offering,” Garrett said, coming up behind her. Daughtry looked up but said nothing. Garrett held out a newspaper. “I knew you’d want to catch up on what was happening around the world. I managed to latch onto this copy of the Denver Post.”

Daughtry took the newspaper from her father. He was trying so hard to make up for his behavior, and even though she had no intention of changing her mind about leaving, Daughtry couldn’t treat him badly.

“Thank you, Daddy,” she said softly and glanced briefly at the headlines.

“I really am sorry,” Garrett said.

“I know,” Daughtry replied. You always are.

Seeing that she wasn’t in a mood to talk, Garrett left Daughtry to finish her breakfast alone. Daughtry knew that he wanted her to laugh and think nothing more about the events of the previous night, but that wasn’t possible for her.

Flipping through the pages of the paper, Daughtry came across an advertisement. It was like no other she’d ever seen. This was an advertisement for a wife. Quickly scanning the lines, Daughtry read:

Wife wanted to share the dream of building a ranching empire. Looking for a hard-working woman who isn’t afraid to love and live with a man who will provide a home and remain forever yours in the eyes of God and man.

It was signed N. Dawson, with an address in care of the post office in a small town in eastern New Mexico.

How romantic, Daughtry thought as she reread the ad. The days of mail-order brides were a thing of the past but, from time to time, people did still seek a mate through that unconventional manner.

Daughtry began to get an idea. A very serious idea about answering the advertisement. She folded the paper and stared at it for several minutes. It could work, she thought to herself. It could be everything she’d prayed for.

Back at Piñon Canyon, Daughtry penned a response to the man she could only address as Mr. Dawson. She wondered as she wrote what his first name might be. She imagined Nicodemus or Nathaniel—maybe even Navin or Ned, although those names didn’t appeal to her sense of romance.

She stared at the blank paper for several minutes, then began to pour out her thoughts.

Dear Mr. Dawson,

I am responding to your advertisement and would very much like to receive more information about the marriage and dream you propose. I have grown up on a ranch and thus have spent my entire life working at the same dream you seem to have. I would be happy to correspond with you regarding the matter. Please address your reply in care of the Bandelero, New Mexico, Post Office.

Daughtry Lucas

Almost as an afterthought, Daughtry picked up her pen again and added a postscript indicating that she had enclosed a picture of herself. Then, scouting through her desk drawer, she managed to find one that had been taken recently at a church picnic. She thought the photo did her justice.

Slipping the letter and picture into an envelope, Daughtry addressed it and made plans for how she would get away the next morning to mail it. This was a great adventure, she thought to herself, and, for once, she looked forward to the next day with less dread.

N. Dawson, she thought with a smile. Maybe, just maybe, he will be my answer to prayer.

Chapter 3

Daughtry had nearly given up hearing anything from N. Dawson when, much to her surprise, she found a letter awaiting her at the post office. Giddy with excitement and grateful that she’d ridden in alone for the mail, Daughtry tore open the envelope.

She wasn’t prepared for the many pieces of paper that accompanied the letter. Reviewing the items, Daughtry was shocked to find legal documentation for a marriage by proxy, a train ticket, and photograph. The picture was face down and Daughtry decided to leave it that way until after reading the letter. This way, she thought, I won’t be influenced by looks alone.

Carefully opening the letter, Daughtry eagerly read the contents.

Dear Miss Lucas,

I was enchanted by your photograph and letter. I would like to say that I believe you are a Godsend. My faith being firmly rooted in Him, I can say without a doubt that you are the woman I am to marry.

Daughtry reread that line several times before continuing. A strange feeling was coursing through her, and it made her hand shake ever so slightly as she read on.

Enclosed you will find a train ticket to bring you to me and a legal document which will allow you to marry me before you make the journey. It is most imperative that you marry by proxy by the twenty-fifth of September, otherwise the documents will be null and void.

I hope this answers your questions, and I hope the enclosed photograph will put your mind at ease regarding my appearance and age.

Forever yours,

Nicholas Dawson

“Nicholas!” Daughtry breathed. “His name is Nicholas.” Gingerly, she refolded the letter and turned the photograph over. Her breath caught in her throat. He was clearly the handsomest man she’d ever seen. She studied the man who casually sat for the photograph. He was dressed in a smart suit, with dark hair and even darker eyes staring back at her. His eyes seemed to twinkle, if that were possible, and his lips were curled upward.

“Oh my,” she said breathlessly. “He’s wonderful.”

She lost track of time, studying the picture as though trying to memorize each and every feature of the man. Finally, when a train whistle blew and broke her concentration, Daughtry realized she would have to be heading back to the ranch.

After another quick examination of the document and train ticket, Daughtry replaced the papers in the envelope and tucked the letter into the deep pocket of her split skirt. Without much thought, she tossed the rest of the mail into her saddle bag and mounted Poco.

“What have I done?” she questioned aloud. All around her the rich cobalt blue sky stretched out to the purple haze of mountains. The noise of Bandelero faded, leaving Daughtry with only one pounding question in her mind. What do I do now?

She felt the side of her skirt to reassure herself that the letter hadn’t been dreamed. “This man is serious, Poco,” she said, as though the horse might offer her some insight. “He’s sent me a train ticket and the means by which to marry him before coming to his place.” The horse kept a steady trot, mindless of its owner’s ramblings.

“Dear God,” Daughtry finally prayed, looking upward to the cloudless sky. “I didn’t mean to cause trouble, but maybe this is the direction You’re leading me. The man says I have to make up my mind before September twenty-fifth.” Daughtry paused in her prayers. “Father, that’s only ten days from now.”

A trembling started anew in Daughtry. Ten days! That’s all the time she had to make a lifelong decision. She argued and reasoned with herself all the way back to Piñon Canyon. How could she leave her home and marry a stranger? Even if he were a very nice looking stranger? On the other hand, Daughtry knew she was going to leave this place, one way or another. She had no idea how she would care for herself alone, and marriage to anyone would be better than dying an old maid, she thought.

❧

Three days later, Daughtry was still mulling over her proposal. She’d reread the letter until it was well-worn and she knew every word by heart. Always, she came back to the picture and lost her heart a little more. “Forever yours, Nicholas Dawson,” she sighed and stared at the dark eyes of the man who wished to marry her. Only seven days were left.

Daughtry had never been a person given over to moments of spontaneous decision. She always thought things out and, inevitably, reasoned away any urge to do something foolish. This was no exception, and as time passed, Daughtry recognized too many good arguments against accepting Nicholas’s proposal.

“I can’t hurt Mother that way,” Daughtry thought aloud. She had taken Poco out for her routine morning ride, grateful to escape the escort her father thought necessary. Pulling back on the reins, Daughtry slipped down from Poco’s back and walked alongside the gelding for awhile. “I can’t just walk away from my responsibilities,” she continued. Poco seemed more interested in the patches of fading green grass than in his mistress’s declarations.

“I’ve always been a good girl,” Daughtry said firmly. “I’ve always been dependable and reasonable. I’ll just have to make it clear to Daddy that I need to be allowed to court and marry and eventually leave Piñon Canyon to make my own home. He’ll come around in time.”

Daughtry studied the landscape for a moment. The rocky western slopes of their property headed upward into the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. Soon snow would cover the magnificent crests and Piñon Canyon would be blanketed in white.

Another winter, Daughtry thought to herself. And in January, I’ll be twenty-four.

Daughtry walked on in silence. She had to do the right thing, she reasoned. She had to trust God and endure the situation as best she could. When she got back to the house, she would simply write to Nicholas—no, Mr. Dawson—and tell him that she couldn’t marry him.

She was about to remount Poco when a cloud of dust in the distance caught her attention. Riding hard and fast across the open plain was her father. Daughtry remained on the ground until a worried-looking Garrett reined up beside her.

“You’re on foot,” he said, looking Daughtry over from head to toe. “Is something wrong?”

“No, Daddy,” Daughtry said, taking a defensive tone. “I’m just enjoying the morning.”

Garrett frowned. “Why didn’t you bring someone with you?”

“Because I’m a grown woman and I don’t need an escort. I like to spend time on my own, and I don’t want to have someone following me around all the time. It’s bad enough that you won’t leave me alone.”

Garrett’s eyes revealed his hurt but Daughtry was rapidly growing angry, and her father’s pain was furthest from her mind.

“Daddy, you and I have to talk about this,” Daughtry said firmly. “Why don’t you walk with me a spell.”

Garrett quickly complied and joined his daughter on the ground. He started to speak, but Daughtry held up her hand. “Please let me say what I need to say,” she began. “Then you can tell me what you think and we’ll go from there.”

“All right.”

Daughtry swallowed hard and took a deep breath. She prayed that God would give her the right words to say. “Daddy, I know how much losing Julie hurts you. I hurt too. I miss her, and I wish that she would never have gone out riding that morning. But the truth is, she did, and I can’t change that and neither can you. You can’t change it by smothering me or watching my every step. You can’t do God’s job, Daddy.”

Daughtry stopped and looked at her father for a moment. He was still a young man, vital and strong, and Daughtry knew he was perfectly capable of providing for his family. He’d helped her with so many things in life. He was the one who had helped her find Christ as her Savior. He was also the one who had taught her to ride and shoot and a hundred other things that pertained to her life on the ranch.

“I love you, Daddy,” Daughtry said, looking deep into his eyes. “But I want to get married and have a family. I want a life of my own, and I want you to let me go.”

Garrett looked at her blankly for a moment. “Have you found someone?” he asked softly.

Daughtry smiled ever so slightly at the thought of Nicholas. “I thought I had, but now I’m not sure. I do know, however, that it’s what I want for my life, and I believe it’s what God wants for me too. I don’t want to go to school or hold a job or make a great splash in society. I just want to be a wife and mother. I don’t want to grow old taking care of you and Mother. You’re supposed to care for each other, and we children are supposed to leave the nest.” Garrett nodded, and Daughtry thought he finally understood. Feeling a bit of relief, she offered him a smile.

“Who is it?” Garrett asked without thinking.

“Who is who?”

“Who were you thinking about marrying?” Garrett questioned, and Daughtry could see the determination in his eyes.

“It isn’t important,” Daughtry said in exasperation.

“Well, why don’t you let me be the judge of that.”

“Because I’m a grown woman and you aren’t the judge of my life,” Daughtry stated in anger. “I’m the one who will decide whom I marry and when. This isn’t the Middle Ages, Daddy, and I’m not going to be like Momma and let my father decide for me.” Daughtry stormed past him and remounted Poco with a fury in her eyes that Garrett had never before seen.

“You’re still under my authority, Daughtry,” Garrett said, swinging up into his own saddle. “That gives me a say in what you do.”

Daughtry gripped the reins tightly. She tried to steady her voice before she spoke. “Daddy, you’re making this very difficult. Will you allow me to make some choices for myself? Will you stop shadowing everything I do in the fear that I will end up dead, like my sister?”

Garrett looked at her for a moment before silently shaking his head. “I can’t, Daughtry. God made you my responsibility.”

Daughtry refused to answer. Instead she dug her heels into Poco’s sides, something she rarely did, and flew out across the ground for home. By the time she’d headed into the stable yard, Daughtry had made up her mind. No matter what else happened, she was going to marry Nicholas Dawson! She would have the last word on this and no one, especially not her father, would stand in her way.

Chapter 4

At a few minutes before three o’clock in the morning, Daughtry led Poco from his stall. She walked him out past the stables and corrals and moved silently toward the open range. She prayed that she was doing the right thing by leaving, and a part of her sincerely thought she was. She remembered her mother saying on more than one occasion that God often expected a person to step out in faith. Mounting Poco in the New Mexican darkness, Daughtry figured this was as big a step of faith as she could possibly make.

The ride into town was uneventful, and when Daughtry arrived, she quickly tied Poco up outside of the church, knowing that Pastor David would recognize the horse and get him back to Piñon Canyon. She wished she could take Poco with her. At least then she’d have something to comfort herself with at the end of her trip. But arranging to take Poco would require her making her presence known to the freight agent, and he would no doubt remember where she had gone when her father came looking.

Knowing the church would be open, Daughtry took her two heavy bags and slipped inside the dark protection of the sanctuary. Quickly, she pulled on clothes she’d borrowed from Pepita in order to board the train and not be recognized. She pulled a heavy shawl over her head and secured it under her chin. Then, taking her bags in hand, Daughtry made her way to the train depot.

Only a handful of people waited for the five-thirty eastbound. Gratefully, Daughtry didn’t recognize any of them. She waited in the shadows, however, just in case one of them recognized her. When the train whistle blasted through the early morning silence, though, Bandelero was just coming awake, and no one Daughtry knew was anywhere to be seen.

Daughtry grew fidgety waiting for her turn to board, but as soon as she took her place on the nearly empty train car, she began to relax. Freedom, she thought to herself, came at a high price, but she was sure it would be worth it.

Looking out the soot-smudged window, she nearly ducked down at the sight of Dr. Monroe, or Dr. Dan as she affectionately called him. He was hurrying down the street, however, black bag tucked under his arm and a look of determination on his face, and he never glanced at the train. No doubt another medical emergency, Daughtry thought.

Soon the train began its journey, and Daughtry breathed a sigh of relief. When they reached the town of Springer, the conductor announced an hour wait while they took on several carloads of cattle. Daughtry realized this would be the perfect opportunity to find a minister and have the proxy marriage ceremony performed.

Hurrying through the town, she wondered to herself what minister in his right mind would marry two strangers together. What if I can’t find someone willing to do the job? Worry flooded her soul. What if she had to turn back, or worse, meet Mr. Dawson without the marriage in place as he’d requested?

Daughtry’s worries were for naught, however. The first minister she approached was more than happy to take her offering of five dollars to perform the proxy service. Armed with marriage papers in hand, Daughtry made her way back to the train, ten minutes before it pulled out and headed east to her new home.

Staring out the window, Daughtry felt something akin to excitement and foolish regret, both at the same time. She was a married woman! She was no longer Daughtry Ann Lucas. Now, she was Daughtry Dawson, wife of Nicholas.

Taking out the photograph of her husband, Daughtry tried to imagine what type of man he was. He looked tall, and she could see that he was broad-shouldered. He looked strong and healthy, maybe even older than she. She realized with a start that she had no idea how old her husband was. Nor did she know whether he’d ever been married before or if he had children.

“What have I done?” she questioned softly, then glanced around quickly to make certain no one else had heard her.

When the train finally arrived at Daughtry’s destination, she panicked. Nicholas wouldn’t know she was coming. She hadn’t sent a telegram or tried to telephone or anything else that would let him know of her arrival. She’d brought a small amount of money with her, enough to rent a room for the night, but fear gnawed at her like a hungry animal. Daughtry had never been on her own before.

She stepped from the train and immediately signaled a man to assist her. “Do you know where the Nicholas Dawson ranch is located?” she asked the man.

“No, Ma’am. I can’t rightly say I’ve ever heard of the man.”

Daughtry’s face fell. Just as she was about to ask the man who might know, another voice sounded from behind her.

“Did I hear you say you were lookin’ for the Dawson place?”

Daughtry turned and met the eyes of a dust-laden stranger. The man was older than her father, but his shoulders and chest were massive.

“Yes,” she managed to say. “I need to get to Nicholas Dawson’s ranch.”

“Well, you’re in luck,” the man said in a noncommittal way. “I’m on my way out there with this load of freight. I just have to finish picking up the rest of it and we can be on our way.”

Daughtry sighed aloud. “You, Sir, are an answer to prayer.”

The man snorted at her declaration and pointed to his wagon. “You just wait over there and I’ll be with you directly. These your bags?” he questioned, glancing at the luggage beside Daughtry.

“Yes.”

“That all you brought?”

“Yes,” Daughtry replied and ignored his look of curiosity.

Without another word, the man took the bags, threw them up into the freight wagon, and went off in the direction of the train. Daughtry hurriedly planted herself by the wagon and was relieved when the man returned fifteen minutes later to finish stacking the cargo.

The afternoon was late when Daughtry and the freighter finally arrived at the Dawson ranch. The man had offered her no name, and, in return, Daughtry hadn’t explained who she was. Now, as the man unloaded his wagon and stacked lumber and supplies inside a rather rundown barn, Daughtry glanced around nervously for her husband. When the freighter finished and Nicholas had still not appeared, Daughtry grew frightened.

“Are you certain this property belongs to Nicholas Dawson?”

“Sure as I am of anything,” the man replied. “I’ve been bringing supplies out here for weeks now. He’s gone a lot, which would explain why he isn’t out here to greet us now. I notice his horse is gone, so there’s no telling where he is or when he’ll be back. Did he expect you?”

“No. Well, yes.” Daughtry tried to answer reasonably. “He didn’t know what day I would get here. Tell me, what else do you know about Mr. Dawson?”

The man eyed her suspiciously for a moment. “Don’t know much. He’s new to these parts. Took this old place off the hands of Widow Cummings and declared he wanted to turn it into a fine ranch again. Other than that, I don’t guess I know anything else.”

“You have met him though?”

“Sure,” the man said and scratched his head. “I take it you haven’t?”

Daughtry shook her head. “No, I haven’t met him yet. I have his picture and a letter, but that’s all.”

“You kin of his?”

“No,” Daughtry replied and smiled weakly. “I’m his wife.” The man burst out laughing, and Daughtry felt foolish for having mentioned the matter.

“Well, I’ll be. I heard he was after gettin’ himself hitched. Didn’t find any prospects in our little town though, and I heard tell he advertised in the papers for one. Is that how you came to marry him?”

Daughtry felt completely stupid. “Yes,” she managed to whisper, “that’s how it happened.”

“Well, I wish you the best, Mrs. Dawson,” the man said, climbing up into the wagon. “Here.” He turned to rummage under the seat of his buckboard and handed her something down. “You might want to order something, then I’ll have a reason to come back out this way.”

Daughtry stared down at the Sears and Roebuck catalog the freighter had just handed her. Daughtry greatly needed his gesture of kindness. “Thank you,” she said softly. “You have been so very kind. What do I owe you for the ride out?”

“Not a thing, pretty lady. Not a thing.” He retrieved his hat, tipped it to her, and moved his horses back out to the road. Within minutes, the dust of his wagon faded into the distance, leaving Daughtry all alone in the middle of nowhere.

“I’ve brought this on myself,” Daughtry said, squaring her shoulders with a look of determination. “I’ve just got to make the best of it.”

She took her bags in hand and headed toward the rundown house. Staring at it in the soft glow of early evening light, Daughtry realized it was sorely neglected. No wonder Nicholas needed a woman who was willing to work hard. Well, Daughtry thought to herself, this will be a challenge, and I will meet it head on and with a light heart.

Her resolve lasted as long as it took to get through the back mud porch and into the kitchen. She could see well enough to realize that the place was hopelessly filthy and in need of more than just a little attention.

Setting her mind to the work at hand, Daughtry decided to do as much as she could to put the place in order before her husband returned. She quickly lighted several lamps and explored the rest of the house in order to determine what should be done first.

Through the kitchen, Daughtry found a small but promising dining room. This connected to a small parlor, and this in turn came out onto a short hall that blended into a vestibule of sorts that ended at the front door. Crossing the hall, Daughtry found a larger sitting room filled with an assortment of odd looking crates, furniture, and a wood stove that had been used recently but not cleaned in a long time. Finding more lamps here, Daughtry lit another and left it to radiate a cheery glow in the room, while she continued to explore.

Back in the hall, she turned and opened the door to a small closet. Farther down, she noticed two more doors and opened one into a small room that looked as though it had been a sewing room at one time. Hadn’t the freighter said the ranch belonged to a widow before Nicholas bought it?

The other door opened into the bedroom, and Daughtry became suddenly aware of Nicholas’s masculine presence. Several articles of clothing lay around the room in disarray. Putting the lamp on the nightstand beside the four poster bed, Daughtry picked up a black suit coat and held it in front of her. The shoulders were broader than she’d even imagined. Nicholas must be quite a large man, Daughtry surmised, by the look of his coat.

She picked up other items and stared at them, as if hoping they would answer her unspoken questions. Picking up a pair of discarded jeans, Daughtry held them against her, trying to get an idea of how Nicholas’ size might contrast to her own. She’d worn her brothers’ clothes on many occasions, but they’d always been old clothes they had long outgrown. These were the clothes of a man, not a boy, and Daughtry knew there was no comparison.

Realizing that the sky was getting darker and feeling the need to relieve herself, Daughtry went back down the hall and made her way outside. She instantly spotted the outhouse and started across the yard.

For a moment, she paused to take in the beauty of the sunset. The sun looked like a ball of molten scarlet against the fading colors of the sky. Lavender, so dusty and dark that it was nearly purple, blended into streaks of blue and amber. Daughtry hugged her arms against her body and thanked God for the wonder of it.

“Only God can paint the sky like that,” she sighed.

Back in the house, Daughtry realized she could do little about the house’s untidiness so late in the day. She found a can of peaches and a tin of crackers and made her supper on these. Morning would surely prove to offer her more understanding of her new home.

When she’d finished with the meager provisions, Daughtry extinguished all the lamps but the one she carried with her. She took her bags and made her way to the bedroom. Her only thought was to get a good night’s sleep, but when she was actually in the room once again, Daughtry grew uncomfortable. Should she sleep in his bed? What if he came home in the night?

She was about to make a pallet on the floor, when a mouse scurried across the room and out the door. With a shriek of fright, Daughtry’s mind was made up. Nicholas or no Nicholas, she was sleeping in the bed!

Chapter 5

Daughtry tried to ignore her concern for the absent husband she’d never met. Three days had passed since she’d arrived at the ranch, and Nicholas had still not come back. Trying to soothe her worry, Daughtry set up Nicholas’s picture on the small table in the kitchen and, as she worked, she talked to him as though he were there.

“I’m going to have to start bringing up wood,” she said absentmindedly. “It’s getting considerably colder and pretty soon it’s bound to snow. I used the last of the coal, or at least what I could find, so I guess I’ll just have to go down to that grove of trees and see what I can find there.”

Daughtry had worked wonders with the place and, in spite of her nervous state of mind, she was pleased with the way things were shaping up. She’d inventoried the supplies and managed to find a pantry just off the kitchen that she’d not seen in her first day of exploring. Nicholas had laid up quite a store of canned goods and smoked meats, as well as plenty of flour, sugar, soda, and salt. Daughtry nearly cried in joy at the sight of so much food.

Her first project had been to clean the kitchen. She reasoned that if she could have this one room in perfect order, she could easily work with the others at her leisure. Going around the room, she noted what was worth keeping and what was plain and simple trash. The curtains were still in good shape but needed to be washed, so Daughtry removed them and began heating water in the biggest pot she could find.

Piece by piece, she emptied the room, until nothing remained but the dirty black stove and the empty ice-box. She found soap in the supplies that the freighter had left in the barn, as well as brushes and a well-made broom. Taking these, she scrubbed the grime from the walls, floors, counters, and cabinets, until everything was spotless. After this, she tackled the stove, washing it thoroughly until she was satisfied that she could cook food without fear of catching something from the filth.

Bit by bit, the room took shape, and Daughtry continued to talk to Nicholas as though he were there, relating her plans as she continued.

She went to work cleaning the small table and chairs that had set in the kitchen, as well as the pie saver and jelly cabinet that she’d taken outside. She was just about to move them indoors, when she remembered something in the barn.

Setting out across the yard, Daughtry opened the barn door and went inside. After several minutes of searching, she returned to the house with a bucket of white paint and a brush. Maybe Nicholas hadn’t planned on the house being painted inside, but Daughtry thought a fresh coat of whitewash would help matters a great deal. If he were mad at her, then she’d just have to apologize and try to fix the matter. That was, if he ever showed up.

More nosing around revealed a wealth of useful household goods, and Daughtry began to take courage from the way the house shaped up. The kitchen was actually attractive now with its freshly painted walls and cabinets. The shelves were lined with sparkling dishes from sets that Daughtry had found in crates in the large sitting room, and the pots gleamed from her hours of scrubbing.

Every night, Daughtry went to bed more exhausted than the night before. After the second day, she’d made notable progress with the bedroom, feeling that this was the next place to be put in order. After wrestling the mattress outside and beating it until the entire yard looked like the middle of a dust storm, Daughtry scrubbed down the room and furniture. Finally, she washed every article of clothing and all of the linens before deeming the bedroom acceptable.

She didn’t have long to wonder what she’d need to turn her attention to next. When it rained on the second night, Daughtry learned quickly that the roof was leaky. Steady drips fell from the ceiling in more than one place, and Daughtry knew that her job in the morning would consist of trying to repair and reshingle her roof.

She barely had time to worry about her husband. For all she knew, he didn’t even exist, except that she had papers that told her otherwise. Every day, she tried to make ready for his return. She wanted very much to prove herself worthy in his eyes. And oh, what eyes, she thought as she drifted into sleep. Dark, dark eyes that seemed to laugh at some private joke. Dark eyes that Daughtry prayed would behold her with love and devotion.

Daughtry rose early, thankful that the storm had passed early in the night. She pulled on the set of boy’s clothes she’d brought with her from home, finding them much easier to work in, and planned her day.

She set bread out to rise and made herself some breakfast before considering the roof. The kitchen was chilly, and Daughtry was grateful for the warmth of the stove. She reminded herself that leaky roofs could be lived with as long as she could keep a fire warming the house. With that in mind, she decided to bring more wood up to the house before worrying herself with anything else.

The day was rapidly getting away from her, and the sky was clouding up again. Daughtry knew she should at least try to check the roof out and see if she could do anything about the leaks, just in case it rained again that night.

Making her way to the barn, Daughtry found an old wooden ladder and took it with her to the house. She climbed up on top, noting several very soft spots, and began picking away at the tattered shingles. She was used to adobe houses, but this clapboard house she now called home was very similar to some of the other buildings at Piñon Canyon. Daughtry had helped her father and brothers on more than one occasion with roofing, repairing, and building. She had loved working alongside her family and learning every aspect of how to make the ranch run prosperously.

This was the first time Daughtry had allowed herself to remember her family and tears came to her eyes. Were they worried about her? Of course they were, she chided herself. Her father would be frantic, even though she’d left them a long letter explaining her need to get out on her own. Would they ever forgive her for stealing away in the night? Would she ever be welcomed back?

Exhaustion overwhelmed Daughtry as she climbed into bed that night. How she longed for a bath in a tub of hot water. But for now, she had to settle for washing out of the kitchen sink, where she poured pans of heated water. Perhaps she could talk Nicholas into purchasing a tub—if he ever showed up.

She drifted immediately into sleep, succumbing to the strain of the days that had passed in heavy, never-ending work. Daughtry dreamed of dark eyes and a handsome face, wondering where her husband was and why he’d not returned. The picture of Nicholas faded into that of her father’s angry image, and Daughtry tossed restlessly as she sought to escape his rage.

Then the dream took another path, one that Daughtry had never before envisioned. She was being held safe and warm in muscular arms. Snuggling closer, Daughtry felt a hand run through her long hair. Sighing, she relished the dream. This would be what it was like to be held by Nicholas, she decided.

Then, to her surprise, Daughtry felt warm lips against her cheek. They trailed down to capture her lips, and Daughtry returned the kiss.

In the foggy uncertainty of sleep, Daughtry struggled to open her eyes. A part of her wanted to go on sleeping so that she could enjoy the dream, but another part of her was being beckoned. She could almost hear someone calling her name.

Daughtry tried to concentrate on the voice but it faded, and as it did, she became more awake, until she suddenly realized that she wasn’t alone. Opening her eyes wide, Daughtry stared into the amused dark eyes of Nicholas Dawson.

For a moment all Daughtry could do was stare. Was she dreaming or was this real? The shocked look on her face caused the man beside her to chuckle.

“I–I—” Daughtry couldn’t speak a coherent word to save herself. Shyly, she pulled her arms from the man’s neck and tried to ease away from him, as if he wouldn’t notice.

Nicholas sat up and Daughtry could see he was fully clothed and sitting atop the covers she so carefully clutched to her neck. With a grin he spoke. “I sure hope you’re my wife.”

Daughtry saw nothing amusing about the situation. She was trembling from head to toe, and whether it was from the shock of finding Nicholas in her bed or from the passion he’d awoke in her, Daughtry wasn’t sure.

In a flash, Daughtry leaped from the bed and ran for the door. She knew her long flannel nightgown wouldn’t offer her much coverage, but she wasn’t about to stop and retrieve her robe on the way out the door. She reached for the handle and had just turned it, when Nicholas was beside her.

“Don’t go. I’m sorry I scared you. It wasn’t very nice of me, but I couldn’t help myself.” His voice was rich and warm, just as Daughtry knew it would be. Daughtry let her hand slip from the handle, but she couldn’t bring herself to face her husband.

Slowly, as if dealing with a terrified child, Nicholas turned her to face him. “I’m Nicholas Dawson, although I’m sure you’ve already figured that out. You look just like your picture.”

Daughtry lifted her face to meet his. “You too,” she whispered.

Nicholas smiled and his eyes lit up. “I never figured on getting such a beauty for a wife. I wasn’t even sure you’d agree, what with me in such a hurry and all. I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you arrived. I had to be away on business, and I just got back this morning.”

Daughtry nodded and looked away. Her senses were suddenly raging with all that she was seeing, hearing, and feeling. As if realizing she needed the space, Nicholas stepped back and waited for her to speak.

“I’m Daughtry Lucas, I mean, Dawson,” she said nervously. She took a deep breath to steady her nerves. “I didn’t know when you’d be back. I took some liberty with the house. I’m sorry if I overstepped my rights, I mean, I didn’t know what you’d expect of a wife, and I, well. . .” Daughtry stopped as she realized she was rambling and twisting her nightgown.

Nicholas just grinned at her, making the whole situation even more uncomfortable. Daughtry glanced at the bed, and her face flushed crimson.

Noting where her gaze ended, Nicholas reached out and touched Daughtry’s cheek. “I really am sorry for startling you. I should have waited until you woke up good and proper, but I haven’t always used the sense the good Lord gave me. What say you get dressed and come on out to the kitchen and we’ll talk?”

Daughtry was mesmerized by the way his thumb was rubbing her jawline. His fingers were on her neck, and the warmth of their contact against her bare skin sent tremors through Daughtry that she couldn’t control.

Surprising them both, Daughtry jumped from the door and moved back to the end of the bed. “I’ve got my things in here,” she said motioning to the wardrobe. “If you’ll wait in the other room, I’ll get dressed.”

Nicholas nodded, the smile never leaving his face. When he had gone from the room, closing the door firmly behind him, Daughtry’s knees gave out and she crumpled to the floor.

“Dear God,” she prayed in a whisper, “I’ve really done it this time. Please help me to know what to do and say, and please don’t let Nicholas be mad about the paint. Amen.”

Getting dressed as quickly as she could, Daughtry laughed to herself. Paint? I’m worried about paint?

Chapter 6

Daughtry hurried into the kitchen to find her husband sitting comfortably at the small table. She pulled her apron from a hook near the door and tied it around her trim waist. Nicholas watched all of this in complete silence, surprised at the control Daughtry seemed to have managed to regain in her few minutes alone.

He watched her as she put wood in the stove and got the fire going. He was more than a little impressed at what he’d found upon his return. Truth be told, he nearly walked back out the door, fearing that he’d entered the wrong house. A double take confirmed that he was indeed in the right house but that a transformation of tremendous proportions had taken place. Now looking at the petite and delicate woman he’d married, Nicholas was even more surprised.

Daughtry put a pot of coffee on the stove and turned to question her husband.

“What would you like for breakfast?”

Nicholas smiled to himself. He hadn’t had someone to wait on him since leaving home and that seemed a million years ago. “Whatever you’re having,” he replied and leaned back against the chair.

Daughtry looked thoughtful for a moment. “Well, I have fresh bread and of course there are the canned foods. I wasn’t able to locate any eggs or potatoes, so I can’t really do you justice with anything grand. I could make tortillas and heat up some of the meat from the pantry.” She fell silent and shrugged her shoulders. “I was just going to have toasted bread and jam.”

“Sounds fine for me as well.”

Daughtry nodded and went back to work, while Nicholas continued his silent study. He figured she was about five feet, four inches tall. Surely no taller, and she couldn’t weigh more than one hundred pounds. She had pulled her hair up into a loose bun of rich copper. He liked the shade, never even imagining from her photograph what color her hair might be. She had a sweet face. Almost angelic, he thought. In fact, she looked so childlike that Nicholas suddenly sat up with a start.

“How old are you?”

“A lady should never reveal her age, Mr. Dawson.” Her smile was brief and Nicholas caught her teasing tone. “However, because you are my husband and entitled to know full well what you’ve saddled yourself with, I will admit that I’m quite old.”

Nicholas laughed at this, and the amusement lingered in his eyes. “How old?”

“I’m twenty-three. I’ll be twenty-four in January,” Daughtry said with something akin to regret in her voice.

“A mere baby,” he chided and was rewarded with a look of sincere appreciation in his wife’s eyes. Had someone honestly told this slip of girl that she was old?

Daughtry brought the toast and coffee to the table, then retrieved two mugs, a knife, and the jam before sitting opposite Nicholas.

“Would you ask the blessing?” she asked rather timidly.

“Certainly,” he said without a second thought and bowed his head. “Father, thank You for this food and the hard labors of this industrious young woman. I ask that You would bless this house and this union between Daughtry and me and let us live our days devoted to You, Amen.”

Daughtry looked up filled with wonder. “That was a beautiful prayer. Especially asking God to bless our marriage.” She paused for a moment, then jumped right into the matter. “We do have a rather strange arrangement here, don’t we?”

Amused, Nicholas reached out and took several pieces of toast. He liberally slathered jam across each piece and handed two to Daughtry before replying. “Strange doesn’t half seem to explain it.”

Daughtry poured the coffee and began to feel at ease. “I’ve always been a very straightforward kind of woman, Mr. Dawson.”

“Please don’t call me Mr. Dawson. Call me Nicholas or Nick, but not that.”

Daughtry smiled. “All right. As I was saying, I like to be honest about things and I don’t like to play games, at least not people games. Do you know what I mean?”

“I think so,” he said with a gentleness in his expression that further dispelled Daughtry’s anxieties.

“I’ve never been the kind of person to jump into things without real regard to the consequences, but this time seems to be an exception. I’m not sure I did the right thing in marrying you, but it is done and I don’t believe in divorce or annulments. I just wanted you to know that I take our marriage very seriously.” Nicholas stared at her soberly while she continued. “I intend to make you a good wife. I will work hard, and I know a great deal about ranching. I’m not weak or fragile, and I’ve spent most all of my life working outdoors alongside. . .” Daughtry stopped abruptly. “Well,” she continued hesitantly, “I’ve spent a lot of time working at the kind of things that will build this place into a respectable and profitable ranch.”

A smile played at the corners of Nicholas’s lips. “Anything else?”

Daughtry put her coffee down and took a deep breath. “I suppose I should say that I’m a Christian. I believe in walking close with the Lord and reading the Word every day. I like to go to church and fellowship with other believers, and I will never do anything willingly that goes against the laws of God.”

“I see.”

Daughtry pressed on lest she lose her nerve. “I’m a very devoted person to those I love and care for. I will endeavor to be whatever you need me to be.” She was blushing profusely at this point. “And, while I know very little about you, I am very teachable and happy to learn.”

Nicholas reached out and put his hand over hers. “What about children?”

Daughtry’s eyes flashed up to meet his. “I love children.”

Nicholas patted her hand and smiled. “Good, because I do too and hope that we can fill this house with a dozen or more.”

Daughtry’s eyes widened at his boldness. “Well, I don’t know if I love them that much.” Her teasing was clearly evident and Nicholas laughed.

“I think I’m going to enjoy being married to you, Daughtry. I, too, have had my misgivings about marrying a person of which I knew nothing more about than the fact that she had beautiful penmanship and took a lovely picture.”

Daughtry started to thank him for the compliment, but he continued to speak. “I did, however, pray about this matter and felt that God’s answer was found in your letter. I worried that perhaps my desire to rush the marriage would put you off, but again I prayed and asked God to intercede and bring the event about. And, well, here you are, and I must say that I am more than a little bit impressed with the answer God’s given. Not only are you the loveliest woman I’ve had the pleasure of knowing, but you’re intelligent, witty, and very charming. Not to mention that you’ve accomplished in a few short days what I believe would have taken most men weeks to do.”

Daughtry remembered the paint and grimaced. “I used your paint,” she said, still not sure why it upset her so much. “I saw it with the supplies in the barn and, while I was cleaning the kitchen, I thought it looked like it could use a good coat. I hope you aren’t upset with me. I didn’t mean to use something without permission.”

Nicholas stared at her rather sternly for a moment before replying. “What I have is yours, Daughtry. How could I possibly fault you for benefiting us both? That’s just another thing I like about you. You’re willing to just get in there and do what needs to be done. That’s to your credit. You aren’t one of those sad little women who sit around all lost and doe-eyed, waiting for their husband to instruct them in what they should do next. I like what you’ve done here, so stop fretting.” Daughtry relaxed, realizing he was completely sincere.

“I do have some questions, though,” Nicholas said, surprising her. Daughtry nodded to show her willingness to answer but was even more surprised with the topic of his question. “Have you ever been in love?”

Daughtry thought back through her life, especially the years before Julie had died. She’d found more than one cowboy fascinating company, but only on friendly terms. She couldn’t honestly remember feeling anything akin to what she was feeling for Nicholas, however, and that gave her reason to believe that she’d actually fallen in love with her husband.

“No,” she answered softly.

“Me neither,” he offered. “I just wondered if there were any ghosts that needed to be laid to rest. You know, broken hearts, lost loves, that kind of thing.”

Daughtry shook her head. “I can honestly say there was no one.”

“Why were you inclined to answer my advertisement?” he continued.

“I guess,” she began, “that your advertisement intrigued me. I thought the whole notion sounded, well, rather,” she hesitated and looked away, “romantic.”

“I’ve never been called romantic before.”

“I find that hard to believe,” Daughtry replied without thinking.

“Why’s that?” Nicholas questioned, honestly wanting to know what was going through his young wife’s mind.

Daughtry shifted uncomfortably. “Do I have to answer that?”

Nicholas laughed. “I’d sure like it if you did.”

“Very well,” she murmured and tried to reason out her words before speaking. “You strike me as a very considerate man,” she began, “a man who would be most sought after by the ladies of his community. You are very. . .” She swallowed several times, then took a drink of coffee.

“I am very what?” He sensed her discomfort but was completely captivated with what she had to say.

“You are very handsome,” she said. “I was very taken with your photograph and the way you signed your letter.”

“The way I signed my letter?”

Nicholas leaned back in his chair and waited for her to explain. If she took all day, he wanted to hear exactly what she had to say.

Daughtry blushed and confusion filled her mind. “Forever yours,” she whispered. “You signed your letter, ‘Forever yours.’ ”

Nicholas smiled. He’d purposefully chosen that very ending after remembering it from one of his father’s letters to his mother. His mother had told Nicholas once that the phrase was more than mere words, it was a pledge of sorts, and she had cherished it greatly. Now his own wife seemed to savor the words for the exact same reason.

“Something I learned from my father,” he explained.

Daughtry used that introduction to Nicholas’s past to question him further. “Tell me about yourself.”

Nicholas shrugged. “Not much to tell. Nobody ever baked me bread as good as this, that’s for sure.”

“I’m serious,” Daughtry said, pouring more coffee into her empty cup. “What about your family?”

“What about yours?”

“I’m alone,” Daughtry replied.

“Me too,” her husband replied and furthered her frustration.

“How am I to get to know you, if you won’t tell me about yourself?” questioned Daughtry softly.

Nicholas leaned forward and smiled, revealing gleaming white teeth and eyes that fairly danced. “We have a lifetime to get to know one another,” he answered. “I just don’t think we need to do it all at one time. I’m going to enjoy getting to know you, little by little.”

Without another word, Daughtry got to her feet, left the room for a moment, and returned with papers in hand.

“These are the marriage documents,” she said, handing them to Nicholas.

Nicholas read them over and cast a glance upward to meet Daughtry’s eyes. “Our wedding day was the twenty-first of September?”

Daughtry nodded.

“Wish I could have been there. I’ll bet you were something to behold.” Daughtry laughed at this, and Nicholas smiled broadly at her. “Did I say something wrong?”

“No, it’s just that I look a whole sight better now than I did that day. Later, I’ll show you what I was wearing.”

Nicholas got up and went to the front sitting room where he retrieved a lock box, which he promptly brought back with him to the table. Taking a key from his vest pocket, he unlocked the box and carefully put the papers inside. Daughtry noticed when he did that her picture and letter were also inside the box, along with a large amount of money.

“They should be safe here,” he announced and held up the key. “If you need anything, money or such, or you want to put something in here, just holler.”

Daughtry nodded. “Just a minute, please,” she said and went to the bedroom.

When she walked back into the kitchen, she thrust some money into Nicholas’s hands. “I’d like to add this to your savings,” she whispered. “It’s all I had left after the trip.”

Nicholas took the money and met Daughtry’s eyes. He knew what she was doing and felt what she was trying to say without even hearing the words. He nodded, placed the money with his own, and shut the box. “Our savings,” he said, locking the box and handing Daughtry the key. It was his way of meeting her trust with his own.

Daughtry reached up, but instead of taking the key, simply closed her hand around Nicholas’s and smiled. “I’m content for you to have control.”

Chapter 7

Daughtry felt as though she lived a lifetime within a single day. Nicholas asked her to share with him all that she’d done in his absence, and Daughtry happily complied. He seemed especially impressed with the large stack of wood she’d positioned near the back of the house.

“I couldn’t find any more coal,” she explained, “so I did the next best thing.”

“Those must be some arms you have,” he teased and reached out to gently caress her upper arm. “Hmm, you don’t feel like a lumberjack.”

Daughtry giggled and looked at him shyly. “I felt like one and I think I probably got as dirty as one. I went down to that grove of trees by the creek,” she said and pointed. “There was quite a bit of dead wood there, and I just made good use of it.”

“I have a load of coal coming,” Nicholas said, reluctantly removing his hand from her arm. “It ought to get here tomorrow or the next day at the latest. I also arranged for the ice man to deliver here until the creek freezes. I figure I can manage to keep us supplied through the winter.”

Daughtry felt her skin tingle long after Nicholas had stopped touching her. She barely heard his words as he continued to speak of his arrangements for the ranch.

“I thought we might go into town tomorrow. We could purchase some of the things we’ll need for the winter and also get some staples that I didn’t have on hand. Milk and eggs ought to be readily available.”

“A milk cow and chickens would suit us better,” Daughtry said without thinking.

“I suppose that’s true enough,” Nicholas said thoughtfully, “but with winter coming on and us not having the ranch really prepared for livestock, I thought maybe we’d just rely on store bought.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Daughtry replied, walking with slow even strides beside her husband.

They paused at the broken down corral, and Nicholas leaned against a piece of fencing. The wind had picked up a bit and blew wisps of Daughtry’s hair across her face.

Daughtry noticed the look of hesitancy in her husband’s eyes, and she couldn’t help but wonder if he were hiding something from her. How could she know what type of man he’d been before or what type he’d be now? Mother had once said that people always proved their true nature by their actions. Well, so far Nicholas’s actions had given Daughtry little to fear.

“What do you suppose we should do first?” he asked her seriously.

Daughtry’s introspection was released as she shrugged. “It all depends on your plans.”

“What would you suggest?”

Daughtry smiled. “Well, being a woman, I suggest the house be put in order first. When I was trying to repair the roof the other day. . .”

“What? You were up on the roof?” Nicholas interrupted.

Daughtry felt her face flush. “Not exactly ladylike, was it?”

Nicholas laughed. “Ladylike or not, I’m amazed at your abilities. Did you actually get up there to fix the roof?”

Daughtry nodded, feeling rather proud. “I was inspired. The second night here it rained so hard that I had puddles all through the house. I can’t say I accomplished much, but it was a healthy start.”

“I guess that’s what I’ll do first then,” Nicholas said with a thoughtful glance back at the house. “What else?”

Daughtry smiled. He genuinely wanted her to have a say in the matter. “Well, I’d like to cart everything out of the house and clean it good before winter sets in,” Daughtry admitted. “As you could see, I only managed to set the kitchen and bedroom to rights before your return.”

“Two very important rooms, if I do say so myself,” Nicholas remarked.

“I figured it that way too,” Daughtry said and, without thinking of the implications, added, “after all, I figured most of my time would be spent in one place or the other.” The words were no sooner out than Daughtry realized how they sounded. She clapped her hand over her mouth.

Nicholas laughed until he doubled over, and Daughtry turned crimson, knowing he must think her terribly forward.

“I didn’t mean,” she started to justify herself, then realized she would only make matters worse by continuing.

Nicholas straightened up and tried to control his mirth. “That’s quite all right, Honey,” he said with tears of laughter gleaming in his eyes. “I pretty well figured what you meant.”

Daughtry had to turn away to hide her embarrassment at her own statement. Sometimes, she thought, I say the stupidest things.

Nicholas sobered as if he’d noticed her discomfort. “So we empty the house,” he said matter-of-factly, “and we wash it all down. Then what?”

“We put it all back inside,” she answered softly. “Of course, if we don’t want something back in the house, we can store it in the barn. I don’t really know where you want things, so it might be nice if you had a part in the sorting through.”

“I’m not sure what’s even in there,” Nicholas admitted. He stared at Daughtry’s back for a moment before continuing. “I bought the place as is from a widow woman who wanted to move back East to live with her daughter. She’d let the place run down to this state and was barely able to feed herself. I heard from the sheriff in town that they were considering trying to force her out for her own good, so I came out here and we made a deal. She left a lot behind, but I have no idea whether it’s useful stuff or just junk.”

Daughtry nodded and finally turned to meet Nicholas’s gaze. “I uncrated the dishes,” she said, “but I didn’t go through much else. I guess we can do that together, if you like.”

“It would be my pleasure. Now, why don’t you tell me about our grove of trees. Did you see anything of value there?”

“There were several apple trees, and I think I recognized a plum or two. Would you like to walk down there?”

“Yes,” Nicholas replied. “I’d like that.”

Daughtry began to walk at a fairly good pace. She was disturbed for some reason by the feelings Nicholas brought about. She thought back to the days she’d spent with nothing more than his picture and realized how much she’d lost her heart to him. He can’t possibly feel the same way, she scolded herself. Men are much more level-headed about such matters. Nicholas obviously needed a hard-working wife, and he probably hadn’t wanted to waste his time with romantic notions and courting.

Daughtry was so lost in these thoughts that she didn’t pay any attention to the ground she was covering. Before she could tell what was happening, she lost her footing on a large rock and fell forward.

Nicholas’s arm shot out in a flash and encircled her waist protectively. He pulled her upright, then, as though he were doing the most natural thing in the world, he pulled her close against him.

Daughtry stared up into his face, knowing he would kiss her. She saw the questioning look in his eyes, as though he were asking permission. Without thought, she reached her hand up to the back of his head and pulled his face down to meet hers.

Nicholas needed no more encouragement. He quickly captured her lips with his own and kissed her so ardently that Daughtry forgot for a moment who and where she was. When he pulled away, Daughtry uttered the first thing that came to mind.

“I love you, Nicholas! I have ever since seeing your picture.” Daughtry no longer cared that the declaration sounded like that of an infatuated teenager. She meant the words with all her heart. She really did love this man.

Nicholas held her at arm’s length for a moment. The troubled look on his face brought Daughtry back to reality. Somehow, she had offended him.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered and walked backwards a step. “That must sound insincere. After all, we’ve known each other for such a short time.” She turned to go back to the house, wanting to run away and hide from her feelings and the man she’d so clearly startled.

Nicholas crossed the distance between them and halted Daughtry from going any farther. “I don’t believe you could be insincere if you tried,” he whispered.

Daughtry lifted her face, revealing all the emotion and misgivings she felt. “Please don’t be angry with me. It’s just that I haven’t had much practice at things like this. Maybe it’s because I’ve never felt this way before.” She shrugged her shoulders before continuing. “My mouth gets a little ahead of itself sometimes, as you’ve witnessed before.”

Nicholas shook his head. “I’m not angry. Surprised, yes, but not angry.”

Daughtry nodded and tried to think of something she could say to negate her declaration of love. Short of lying, however, she didn’t know what she could say. She meant her words of love. As crazy and untimely as it seemed, Daughtry knew they were truer than anything else she’d said to Nicholas.

As if reading her mind, Nicholas took hold of her hand and squeezed it gently. “Just answer me this. Now that we’re not in the middle of a kiss, did you mean it?”

Daughtry knew exactly what he was asking of her. “I meant it,” she barely whispered. “I know it sounds impossible, but it’s true. I never would have married you otherwise.”

They walked back to the house in silence, but Daughtry felt the awkwardness between them. She knew Nicholas was taken aback by her statement, but she sensed that something more than just that was troubling him.

Without a word, they sat down at the table and stared at each other. When Nicholas finally did speak, Daughtry felt her heart skip a beat.

“Tell me about your family, Daughtry.”

The soft request shouldn’t have caused her such fear, but Daughtry felt confident that Nicholas would never allow her to stay if he knew the truth. And more than ever now, Daughtry didn’t want to lose her husband and new life. She didn’t want Nicholas to send her back home.

“I grew up on a ranch,” she said carefully. “I learned just about everything there is to know. I can ride, shoot, rope, brand, mend fence, whatever. I’ve nursed sick calves back to health, assisted with birthings, medicatings, and even helped to drive the herds to market. Ranching isn’t just something I learned,” she admitted. “It’s something that’s in my blood.”

“But that doesn’t answer my question. I want to know about your family. You said that you were alone, but there must have been someone with you at one time or another. What became of your father and mother? Do you have brothers or sisters?”

“I had a sister,” Daughtry said, feeling it safe to speak of Julie. “She died several years ago when her horse slipped on an icy trail and went over the side of a ravine.”

“I’m sorry. That must have been terribly hard on your folks.”

“Yes, it was,” Daughtry admitted before realizing that Nicholas had led her where she didn’t want to go.

He was looking at her intensely now, expecting her to continue, but Daughtry knew she couldn’t. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore,” she whispered and quickly left the room.

❧

Nicholas stared at her chair for several minutes. What was she hiding and why did she look so fearful whenever he mentioned her past? Frustration began to build into anger at her distrust, but then Nicholas caught himself and realized that he had no room to express such thoughts. He was just as guilty of hiding from the past as she. Maybe it was what had brought them together. Maybe it was what God expected them both to deal with.

Chapter 8

The weeks that passed were the happiest Daughtry had ever known. She worked at Nicholas’s side, laughing, teasing, and falling into a comfortable routine of being Mrs. Dawson. At night, they snuggled down under handmade quilts to share each other’s warmth. Beneath the covers, they talked and dreamed about the future.

Daughtry loved it all. Not a single part of her new life caused her regret, except that she had to avoid her past. She started having nightmares about her father coming to tear her away from Nicholas’s strong arms, but she choked back her fears and refused to let them surface. She couldn’t risk losing all that had come to mean so much to her.

But, try as she might, Daughtry couldn’t forget her family, nor could she dispel the building anxieties that haunted her every waking moment. All she could do was pray and ask God to forgive her and guide her steps, convincing herself that nothing else needed to be done.

Sundays were always a joy to Daughtry. She prepared for church with great enthusiasm, though today the sniffles from a passing bout with a head cold caused her some discomfort.

Nicholas popped his head through the bedroom door with a grin as broad as the barn door opening. “You need help with the buttons, Mrs. Dawson?”

Daughtry looked up and shook her head. “You can’t appreciate what we women have to go through in order to look just right for our men.”

Nicholas rolled his eyes. “You always look just right to me, even when you’re wearing those boys’ jeans you seem to favor.”

“Sometimes I wish I could wear jeans to church,” Daughtry said with a giggle. “Especially when the wind whips up and comes blasting across the open range.”

“Well, I’d better never find you wearing those things off the property. It wouldn’t be decent to have all the townsmen following you around with their tongues hanging out.”

“You sound just like my father,” she replied without thinking. The words were no sooner out than she realized her mistake.

Coming to her, Nicholas pulled Daughtry into his arms. “Why are you so afraid to tell me about him? Did he hurt you?”

Daughtry shook her head.

“I promise to understand. Whatever it is—whatever he did to you. . . .” His words trailed into silence.

“He was a wonderful father,” Daughtry said, still trembling beneath Nicholas’s touch. She would say nothing more, though, and in frustration Nicholas released her.

“I’ll get the wagon,” he said and stalked out of the room.

Daughtry knew she’d hurt him by refusing to deal honestly with him. She comforted herself by remembering that Nicholas refused to share any real details of his own past with her. They were both hurting and hiding, she decided. They might as well do it together.

Daughtry was glad that Nicholas wasn’t a man given to holding a grudge. By the time they headed into town he was laughing and joking about first one thing, then another.

After church they enjoyed a leisurely ride home, and Nicholas shared his plans to buy Daughtry a horse. Good horse flesh was something to get excited about, and Daughtry squealed her delight at the news and threw her arms around Nicholas’s neck.

“You really mean it?” she asked, hugging him so tight that he had to stop the horses in order to control her.

“Yes. Yes,” he said, laughing at her enthusiasm. “Who would’ve thought that a little ol’ horse would have gotten me so much attention?”

“It’s just that I’ve really missed riding,” Daughtry said happily. “Back home, I used to ride every day. I had the most wonderful gelding named Poco. He was about fifteen hands high and had the most beautiful gray coat.” She stopped talking because Nicholas was looking at her strangely.

Daughtry jumped back and hung her head. She’d done it again. She couldn’t keep from bringing up her family and the home life she’d once loved. “He was a good horse,” she finally said, when Nicholas wouldn’t speak.

Nicholas remained silent and, when Daughtry said nothing more, he snapped the reins and sent the horse down the path to home.

Daughtry tried not to think about her family that night as she curled into her husband’s arms. The day had brought on too many memories, and more than once she’d nearly told Nicholas everything just to be rid of the burden.

“Nicholas?” she whispered against his ear.

“Yeah?”

“I love you.” Her voice sounded like a child’s trying to get on the good side of an adult.

For a minute, Nicholas said nothing. He tightened his grip on her and sighed. “I don’t think you can love me and not trust me,” he finally replied.

Daughtry stiffened in his arms. “What would you know about it? You don’t love me. At least you’ve never said that you do.”

Nick chuckled at her little girl-like voice. “Never said I didn’t, either.”

Daughtry tried to ease away, but Nicholas would have no part of it. “Daughtry,” he whispered her name and it sounded like a song. “Don’t leave me.”

Daughtry wanted to cry out that she’d never leave, but in the back of her mind that one thing spread panic through her like no other. She might not ever leave of her own accord, but what if her father forced her to leave?

“Never!” she declared in a whisper and settled down into his arms again.

Daughtry faded into a deep sleep, but soon she found herself in the middle of a most realistic nightmare. Her father had learned of her marriage to Nicholas, and now he had come to face him in some sort of showdown, straight out of the frontier days she’d heard so much about.

Tossing from side to side, Daughtry fought with the images, pleading with her father to leave things as they were. He was furious and unyielding, promising to take Daughtry back home where she belonged and to hurt Nicholas if he dared to interfere.

He quoted the Bible to her, as Daughtry fell to her knees at his feet. “Children are to obey their parents,” she heard him say. Turning in her dream to face her husband, Daughtry cried out at the betrayal and pain she saw in his eyes.

“You can’t be my wife, Daughtry. You are his daughter,” Nicholas told her through the misty fog.

“No,” Daughtry moaned softly in her sleep. “No.”

“Daughtry!” Nicholas exclaimed and gently shook her shoulders.

“Oh, Nick,” she cried and fell limp against him as though all of her strength had been drained away.

Gently, he eased back against the pillows, taking her with him. “Why don’t you stop all of this and tell me what’s wrong. Tell me what you’re keeping from me that causes you to have such fitful nights.”

Daughtry looked up at him in surprise. Nicholas just shook his head. “This isn’t the first time, you know. You nearly flail me to death night after night. It’s only getting worse, so you might as well deal with it here and now.”

Daughtry knew he was right, but the fear in her heart caused her to hesitate. “You won’t like it,” she whispered.

“Why not let me be the judge of that?”

“Because I can already tell,” Daughtry replied. “You’re so serious about everything, and you handle things in such a mature way that I’m afraid this will make you very angry with me.”

“Daughtry,” Nicholas said, reaching out to touch her cheek, “I could never be angry with you. Tell me.”

Daughtry wiped at her tears with the back of her sleeve, took a deep breath, and got up on her knees. “I ran away from home to marry you.”

“What?” Nicholas’s eyes widened in surprise. “Don’t tell me you’re really sixteen or something.”

Daughtry laughed. “No, I’m honestly as old as I said. A woman wouldn’t joke about a thing like that.”

“Then why do you say you ran away?”

Daughtry folded her hands. “My father was devastated after my sister died. It will be four years this November—but he only gets worse with each year that passes. Julie’s death caused him to become overprotective of me. Everywhere I went, either he or one of my five brothers was there to shadow my every step. He wouldn’t let me meet anyone or court. That’s why I never fell in love with anyone else. You have to understand, I love my father and brothers, but they were smothering me to death. Even my mother understood how I felt, but she couldn’t seem to reason any sense into my father.”

Daughtry could not bring herself to look at Nicholas’s face as she continued. “We had a terrible argument the night before I learned of your advertisement. When I saw your ad in the paper, I thought it just might be my way out. I decided to write to you and at least learn more about you, but then you wrote back with the proxy and the train ticket.” She paused. “And your picture.”

She looked up to see that Nicholas had put his hands behind his head and was studying her intently. Fearing what he might say, she hurried on. “I was going to write to you and refuse the proposal. I thought I could reason with my father, but when I tried to ask him nicely to give me more space—to let me grow up and fall in love—he refused. I was so angry, that I wrote them a long letter and slipped out in the middle of the night to come to you. I didn’t let them know I was marrying you, and I didn’t say where I was going, only that I would be taken care of and safe.”

She sighed. “I’m really sorry, Nicholas. I thought I was doing the right thing, or at least I thought it would work out to be the right thing. I saw it as an opportunity and I took it. Now, I keep having these horrible dreams that my father and brothers come to take me back. They’re always so angry and ugly, and I never have a chance to save you.”

By now she was crying and Nicholas could no longer remain aloof. “Five brothers?” he asked, his forehead wrinkling up in disbelief.

Daughtry only cried all the more and nodded her head. “I don’t want to leave you. I don’t want them to take me away.” She nearly wailed the words, and Nicholas began to chuckle.

“No one is going to take you away from me, Daughtry. Especially not now, not after all this time has passed between us. You’re a grown woman, and you made your choice. You’re a married woman, and you belong with me.” His words forcefully placed the boundaries for Daughtry to see.

“What’s done is done,” he added. “You can’t let them worry about you, though. And you can’t go on having nightmares every night. I have to believe that this father of yours must be someone pretty special. Otherwise, it wouldn’t upset you so much. Tomorrow we’ll go to town and you can telephone them, or we’ll send a telegram. Either way, you have to let them know what you’ve done and that you’re all right.”

“You aren’t mad at me?” she asked through her tears.

Nicholas opened his arms to her with a smile, and Daughtry nestled down eagerly. “How could I be mad at you?” he whispered and reached over to turn down the lamp. “I love you.”

Chapter 9

Daughtry felt November’s chill air breathe down her damp back. She was working to pull out the last of the brush that had once surrounded her house. Rising up and stretching, Daughtry relished the sun, mild as it was, and put her face upward to catch every single ray. Winter was soon to be upon them and, by all the signs, Daughtry feared it might be a difficult one.

Nicholas watched his wife from his vantage point in the barn loft. She grew more beautiful every day, and every day he knew he loved her more. How good of God to throw them together. He observed her as she went back to work, thinking back to the day they’d gone to the post office and mailed the letter to her father and mother.

“I don’t think I can do this, Nicholas,” she had said in a pleading tone that begged him to let her forget the whole thing.

“You have to,” he’d insisted firmly. “Nothing bad will come of it, Daughtry. If your folks come here, they’ll see how happy you are, and they won’t even want you to leave.”

At least Nicholas hoped things would work out that way. He continued to watch Daughtry, but he was thinking now of his own parents. They’d be livid if he’d pulled such a stunt, but then they were always critical of the choices he’d made in life. If it weren’t for them, however, he might never have met and married Daughtry, and that would have been a pity.

Turning his attention back to the work at hand, Nicholas was surprised when Daughtry called up to him in a frantic voice.

“Nicholas! Someone’s coming!”

Like he’d done as a child, Nicholas jumped from the loft to the stacked bales of hay, then to the floor of the barn. He bounded out quickly to note the three horseback riders approaching from the west.

“Oh, Nick,” Daughtry whimpered. “I just know it’s my father and brothers.”

“At least he only brought two,” Nicholas said with a smile. “Go on in the house. You wait there for me, and I’ll talk to them first. You’ll see, Daughtry. It’s going to be all right.”

❧

Daughtry did as she was told, not because she felt overly obedient, but because she was a coward. She had no desire to hear the things her father would no doubt have to say to her husband. “Why, God?” she prayed aloud. “Why couldn’t I have just done things the right way?”

In only a matter of minutes, angry voices rang loud and clear. Daughtry tried to cover her ears, not wanting to know what was said. What if her father said something really ugly? What if Nicholas refused to let them see her?

Daughtry started to pace. A part of her was certain that she should go outside and try to smooth over the situation. Maybe once her father saw how happy she had become and how wonderful Nicholas truly was, he’d let things be and go back home.

She reached for the door, just as things quieted considerably. A horse whinnied nervously, and Daughtry pulled back. Nicholas had told her to wait inside. She at least had to show him that she could follow his instructions. She might have misled him regarding her family, but that was all behind her now and she wanted to be a good wife.

Just as she’d convinced herself that everything was going to be all right, shots rang out, and Daughtry felt her knees turn to jelly.

“They’ve killed each other!” she gasped and ran to the window.

Outside, two men lay on the ground holding their bleeding arms, while one man remained on his horse with his hands raised high in the air. Daughtry didn’t recognize any of them. She breathed a sigh of relief and turned her attention to her husband.

Nicholas stood with his feet fixed and a rifle leveled at the third man. The rage in his face was terrifying, and Daughtry saw blind hatred in his eyes. She stared at her husband’s face and thought, Who is this man? He certainly didn’t resemble the gentle one she’d married. Daughtry clutched her apron to her mouth to keep from screaming.

Her mind whirled. Who were these men and why had Nicholas shot them? Furthermore, where had he gotten the rifle to do the deed? She’d never seen a gun of any kind on the grounds, although she wouldn’t have been surprised had there been one.

Staring at the scene outside her house, Daughtry couldn’t hear a word that was being said. She watched the third man dismount from his horse and stare down the barrel of Nicholas’s rifle. She couldn’t watch anymore.

Daughtry moved to the far end of the house and cowered in the corner. She was wavering between tears and out-and-out hysteria. The more she thought about the scene, the more frightened she felt. A nervous laugh escaped her as she shook her head. Had Nicholas killed the two men? She sobbed and drew a ragged breath. Suddenly, she felt more terrified than she’d ever been in her life. She would have gladly welcomed the sight of her father and brothers at that moment, but she knew she could hope for no such reprieve.

The kitchen door banged, and Daughtry knew someone had come into the house. Trembling, she backed into the corner even tighter.

“Daughtry!” Nicholas called out to her as he moved from room to room. “Daughtry, where are you?” His voice sounded worried, almost panicked.

When he came into the front room, he sighed when he saw her. “Why didn’t you answer me? Are you okay?”

Daughtry couldn’t say a word. She stared at him, trying to force herself to calm down. It was an impossible task.

“Daughtry, come here, Honey. It’s all right now.”

Daughtry shook her head, not really seeing him. She saw instead the man who’d held the rifle in black rage. She saw a killer in her mind and felt her breath quicken.

Nicholas stepped forward with his arms extended. When he came to her, Nicholas reached out his hands to pull her into his arms. Daughtry went wild.

“No!” she screamed and fought his grasp. “Don’t touch me!” She doubled up her fists and flailed them in the air at his face and chest.

With stunned realization, Nicholas understood that Daughtry was terrified of him, not the men he’d tied up in the barn.

As gently as he could, Nicholas pinned her arms to her side and physically carried her to the sofa. Daughtry was crying and yelling incoherently, begging him not to hurt her. Nicholas thought he’d die inside.

“It’s all right, Daughtry. Honey, don’t do this,” he whispered. Holding her against him with one arm, he began to stroke her face with his other hand. “Daughtry!” He nearly yelled the name, and she immediately settled.

Raising her blue eyes to meet his dark, almost black ones, Daughtry couldn’t hide the fear she felt. All of her foolishness in running away, marrying, and hiding here with a stranger had suddenly come home to her. Gasping for breath, she strained against his touch, while at the same time she heard his gentle words.

“Daughtry, those men are outlaws—a part of my past catching up with me. They meant to hurt us. I only did what I had to do in order to protect us. I was only defending myself.”

Daughtry let the words sink in. Reason drove out the fear, and she began to relax in his hold. “Who—who—” she stammered, “are they?”

“It’s not important. They’re wanted by the law, and later I’ll take them into the sheriff. I have them tied up in the barn and they can’t hurt you.” He softened his expression and loosened his hold ever so slightly. “But then, you aren’t really worried about them hurting you, are you?”

Daughtry couldn’t answer him. She felt so foolish for her behavior.

“Daughtry, have I ever given you reason to fear me?”

“No,” she managed to whisper.

“I’m not a bad man, Daughtry. I know there’s things I can’t tell you just yet, but trust me. I understood about your secrets, now I’m asking you to understand about mine.”

She felt her fears give way to sympathy, then relief. He had only defended himself, she thought. Slumping against him, completely spent, Daughtry clung to his shirt. “I’m sorry,” she said softly.

Nicholas brushed back her hair with his hand. “It’s all right. I can honestly understand your misgivings.”

“Why can’t you tell me about your past?” she questioned. “I told you about mine.”

Nicholas sighed. “It’s a long story, but for now I’m just begging you to trust me and to trust God to work it all out. I love you, Daughtry. Please, don’t doubt me on that.”

“I don’t,” she replied and sat up. She studied the worry in his eyes. It went beyond concern and seemed like something that bordered fear. Was he afraid she’d stopped loving him?

“Oh, Nicholas,” she said and kissed his face several times, “I was so afraid you’d be killed. Then when I saw you with that gun and you were so angry—well, I just didn’t know what to think.”

“I know, Honey, and believe me, I would have saved you from having to go through it if I could have.”

Daughtry nodded. It was all right, she told herself. Whatever his past consisted of, she no longer cared. She only knew that she loved him and that she would stand by him no matter what.

Leaning down to put her face on his shoulder, Daughtry spoke. “We’ll just trust God to get us through this,” she pledged.

“That’s my girl,” Nicholas said and leaned back against the sofa.

Chapter 10

Days later, Daughtry had nearly forgotten the unpleasant incident. “Are we really going to get the horse today?” she asked eagerly. Securing her bonnet, she waited for Nicholas’s reply.

“Yes, for the millionth time,” he said laughing. “I’ve never seen you so excited about anything in our two months of marriage.”

“Well, there was the time that rat got in the house,” Daughtry said with a grimace. “Or wait, what about the bathtub? I got pretty excited about the bathtub.”

Nicholas’s eyes twinkled. “Yes, yes, you did. I seem to recall having some very fine apple cake that evening. Wonder if I’ll get another one for buying the horse?”

“We’ll see,” Daughtry said with a smug look of satisfaction. “Depends on how good the horse is.”

“Now, while we’re in town,” Nicholas said, bringing the wagon to a halt, “I want you to get whatever you think we might need. We’ve got to make sure we’re stocked up for the winter, just in case we have trouble getting into town.”

Daughtry nodded and pulled out a small list. “I wrote down things for the kitchen.” She glanced up and down the street which was already teaming with people. Several suffragists stood at one end of the street expounding on the necessity of women having the vote. At the opposite end of town there seemed to be an unusual amount of traffic at the railroad depot. “We seem to have come on a busy day.”

“Looks that way.” Nicholas helped her from the wagon and put a finger under her chin. “Get yourself some warm clothes while you’re at it. I was looking through the things you brought into this marriage and you aren’t at all well supplied.” His mouth curled into a grin, and Daughtry returned his smile.

“Do you need anything?” she asked. “I can sew, you know, and we still have Mrs. Cummings’s old sewing machine. I’m sure I could get it in working shape.”

“I could use some heavy shirts for winter,” he said, then placed a light kiss on her forehead. “But don’t worry about me. I want you to make sure you have everything you need. Everything, understood? Even if you worry that I might think it frivolous. I’ve never had a wife before, so I wouldn’t be knowing what one might need.”

Daughtry was touched by his generosity. “I’ll try to be thorough. Where will you be?”

“Oh, here and there. I have to get the horse and there’s a few other things I need to attend to. I’ll pick up the mail, so you don’t have to worry about it. Now, here’s some money, and if that’s not enough, tell them to hold whatever it is you want and I’ll pay them before we head home.”

Daughtry watched as Nicholas took off down the street. He was so kind and loving. Gone were the images of the hateful man with the rifle. All Daughtry could see was the man who touched her heart.

She was headed across the street to the general store when she happened to glance once more at her husband’s retreating form. Surprised, she noticed he’d headed to the sheriff’s office. Watching him go into the small building, Daughtry quickly made her way down the street to follow him. She wanted very much to know if her husband were in some kind of trouble.

“But why would he come here if he was an outlaw?” Daughtry wondered aloud. Biting her lip, she looked around quickly and was grateful to find herself alone on the boardwalk.

The town was much too small to have a very grand affair for a jail. Daughtry knew from what folks had told her on the train coming here that this was a one saloon, one cell kind of town. She would have been just as happy had they told her it had no saloon, but then, the world wasn’t perfect.

Leaning close to the window, Daughtry could see her husband in deep discussion with a man she could only guess was the sheriff. She couldn’t hear anything from this vantage point, however. Quietly, she made her way around the building and up the alley. She came to the window nearest the two men and paused. This one had the shade pulled down on the inside. She could see nothing, but she pressed her ear to the glass after a cautious glance down the alleyway.

“You go far enough back with these men to be related,” she heard the sheriff saying. He said something more, but his words were garbled and Daughtry couldn’t begin to understand.

Then Nicholas bellowed in voice so loud Daughtry had no trouble distinguishing every word, “I didn’t ask them to look me up. They rode in looking for trouble and I gave it to them.”

The sheriff, equally enraged, ranted back. “Well, you made your bed this time for sure. You brought it all on yourself!”

Daughtry wondered silently what Nicholas had brought on himself, but she was unable to continue listening at the window because someone was coming down the alley. She made her way down the street, crossing to avoid the suffragists and their battle cries.

She quickly entered the general store and furiously began her shopping. Her mind was filled with ugly images and worrisome thoughts. What if Nicholas had once been an outlaw? Maybe he was once partners with the men who sat in the jail cell. She shuddered at the thought. That just couldn’t be possible. Or could it?

She toyed with several bolts of flannel material and finally settled on a dark blue plaid and a solid brown. She ordered the yardage and sought out buttons to match, planning in her mind to make Nicholas two good shirts before winter set in. Remembering his instructions to her, Daughtry went through the material a second time and chose several colors of wool to make herself some simple skirts. She finished by securing some plain white cotton and two calico prints for blouses, before turning her attention to colorful skeins of knitting yarn.

She paid for the goods, certain that she’d overspent what Nicholas had given her, but found to her surprise that she had plenty of cash left over. Seeing that she still had enough money, Daughtry quickly instructed the store owner to throw in several pairs of long underwear for her husband.

“What size?” the man asked her as he went to retrieve the goods.

“Oh, my,” she said in surprise. “I don’t know.”

“Well,” the man said looking at the blushing woman, “is he bigger than me?”

Daughtry sized the man up for a moment. “Yes,” she determined quickly. “He’s at least this much taller than me and about this much wider,” she said, holding her hands out to indicate the size. Just then, Nicholas came into the store and Daughtry motioned to the storekeeper. “That’s him.”

The man behind the counter smiled and nodded. “Morning, Mr. Dawson. I didn’t know this little lady was your wife.”

“We’re newlyweds,” Nicholas said, coming up behind Daughtry. “Now what did you mean ‘That’s him’?”

“I was just buying you some. . .” Daughtry blushed again, unable to talk about underwear in the presence of her husband.

The storekeeper quickly brought the requested product to the counter and added it to the stack of things Daughtry had already paid for. “Will these do?” he asked, looking at Nicholas and not Daughtry.

Nicholas had to hold himself in check to keep from laughing out loud at Daughtry’s sudden embarrassment. “She thinks of everything,” he said with a wink over Daughtry’s shoulder to the storekeeper. “They’re fine.”

Daughtry handed the storekeeper the remaining amount due, while Nicholas put his arm around her lovingly. “Did you get everything you needed?”

“Yes, and then some. I certainly can’t complain about your generosity, Mr. Dawson.”

Nicholas picked up their supplies and led Daughtry to the door. “Would you like to get something to eat while we’re in town?”

“That might be fun,” Daughtry replied, looping her arm through Nicholas’s. “But it’s also a bit frivolous. We’re going to have a great many expenses come spring and. . .”

“Madam,” a deep, but clearly female voice called out, “you are a victim of our society.”

Daughtry and Nicholas both stopped directly in front of a sour-faced woman who was dressed in black with a white sash that clearly identified her suffrage cause. The woman continued before either Nicholas or Daughtry could comment.

“This man seeks to enslave you! You needn’t be chained to him like a dog. The men of America seek to make women their possessions. They want to control them. He,” the woman said, sticking a bony finger in the middle of Nicholas’s face, “wants to control you. He wants to dominate your every living moment.”

Daughtry stared up at Nicholas as if contemplating the woman’s words. Nicholas just shrugged and raised a questioning brow.

“That’s right,” the woman continued. “This man would just as soon see you bound to him—fit only to serve his pleasures and bear his children!”

Daughtry smiled broadly at the woman. “I know. Isn’t it great?”

At this, the woman sputtered and stepped back in horror, while Nicholas threw back his head and roared with laughter.

“You, young woman, are the very reason women are oppressed. You are the reason we can’t voice our opinions and vote for our own representation,” the woman called to Nicholas and Daughtry as they made their way down the boardwalk.

“You certainly made a spectacle of yourself, Mrs. Dawson. Probably set back women’s rights a hundred years,” Nicholas said, helping her down from the boardwalk.

“Oh dear,” Daughtry said in feigned concern. “I suppose that means I’ll be bound to you even longer now.”

“Only forever,” Nicholas said with a gentleness in his voice that warmed Daughtry’s heart.

Daughtry stared up at her husband, all the love she felt for him shining clear in her eyes.

“Well, are you going to just stand there or are you going to tell me what you think of your new horse?” he questioned.

Daughtry’s eyes widened and she quickly looked around. Standing there, tied to the back of the wagon, was a beautiful chestnut mare, complete with western saddle. “I thought you might like to ride her home,” Nicholas whispered against her ear.

“Oh, she’s beautiful! Of course I want to ride her home. Oh, Nicholas, thank you!” She threw her arms around her husband, nearly causing him to drop their packages.

Helping to set things back in place, Daughtry composed herself a bit, but the delight was evident in her eyes.

“You’re welcome,” he said and happily deposited the packages in the back of the wagon before turning to lend Daughtry some help in mounting.

“Does she have a name?” Daughtry questioned, running her hand along the mare’s sleek neck.

“She does. The owner called her Nutmeg.”

Daughtry cooed and talked to the mare, whispering the name several times. “I think we’ll be good friends, you and I,” she said to the horse.

Nicholas helped her up into the saddle, then took his place on the wagon. “You sure you want to ride her home?”

“Of course I’m sure,” Daughtry replied indignantly. “I could ride before I could walk, at least that’s what my father used to say.” She frowned only briefly at the reference before moving Nutmeg forward.

Nicholas pulled up alongside her once they were on the road out of town. “It’s going to be all right, Daughtry. You can’t be worrying all the time about what might or might not happen.”

“I know, but it’s been awhile since we sent the letter. I figure it won’t be long before. . .” She couldn’t finish the sentence, but Nicholas understood and conveyed his sympathy with his eyes. Taking a deep breath, Daughtry reminded herself that she had Nicholas’s love and that he would protect her. Then an earlier scene crossed her mind and Daughtry grimaced. But who’s going to protect Nicholas? she wondered. Who will protect him when his past catches up with him again?

With the sheriff’s words still reverberating through her head and her own imagination running wild, Daughtry couldn’t help but fear the truth. She worked almost mindlessly around the kitchen that evening, putting the finishing touches on supper, waiting for Nicholas to reappear after seeing to the horses. She pulled a peach cobbler from the oven and smiled. At least she could offer him a good home-cooked meal. Cooking was one thing her mother had insisted Daughtry learn.

“Umm, smells mighty fine in here,” Nicholas said, coming through the mud porch into the kitchen. “And it’s warmer in here too.”

Daughtry came to him and helped him off with his coat. “It does feel a lot colder,” she replied, feeling the chilled night air as it followed him through the open door.

“No sign of snow just yet,” Nicholas added, giving his hat a toss to a hook beside the door. “It might just go around us.”

Daughtry nodded. “Supper’s ready.”

“I can see that,” he said, staring appreciatively at the table. “You’re going to make me fat,” he laughed but eagerly took a seat.

“I baked you a cobbler,” Daughtry said proudly. She brought the bubbling concoction to the table in order to show it off. “It ought to taste even better with the fresh cream we brought home.”

“I’m going to have to keep buying you presents, I see.”

“Maybe you could just share secrets with me instead,” she replied soberly.

“What do you mean?” he asked, knowing full well what she wanted.

“I just think it would be nice to know more about you. Like those men the other day. I can’t just forget about them. Who were they and why did they want to hurt you?” Daughtry sat down to the table and waited for Nicholas to speak.

“It’s nothing,” Nicholas snapped and began putting food on his plate. Softening his tone, he looked at her with pleading eyes and added, “Nothing that needs to concern you.”

“But I heard the sheriff yell at you,” Daughtry said without thinking. She bowed her head, ashamed to admit she’d spied on her husband.

“Don’t nose into this, Daughtry,” he replied sternly, the first time he’d ever sounded angry with her.

“I have a right to know,” she protested, lifting her face to meet his.

Nicholas’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Stay out of it. I mean it!” He slammed his fist down on the table, causing all the dishes to rattle. Daughtry stared at him for a heartbeat, then got up and ran from the table.

She was out the back door and running past the barn before she realized he was calling after her. Pride wouldn’t let her slow down, however, and Daughtry continued until she came to her favorite place. The little grove of trees by the creek offered her a safe haven, but not much warmth. Shivering uncontrollably under the full moon, Daughtry began to cry. Why had he been so mean?

She knew he’d follow her, but when he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, Daughtry jumped back in fear.

“Don’t,” she said between chattering teeth.

She could see the pain in his face. Pain of rejection and fear of loss. “I’m sorry, Daughtry. I didn’t mean to lose my temper.”

She said nothing, wondering at the strained apology. Did he think that was enough? Just an “I’m sorry?” What do you want him to say? Daughtry asked herself and could think of no answer.

Nicholas reached out to her again, and this time Daughtry didn’t push away. “I really am sorry,” he whispered against her ear. “It’s just that the whole episode with those men unnerved me. I can’t help but worry that we aren’t safe here anymore. I can’t help but worry that I’ve exposed you to something harmful and ugly. Before, when it was just me, I didn’t have to worry about things like that. I prayed and asked God to ride with me, watch over me, and take me home when the time came. But now, there’s so much more. There’s you and. . .” He fell silent. What was the use? He couldn’t explain it.

Daughtry’s heart softened toward him. His worry for their safety concerned her more than she wanted to admit but, right now, all she wanted to do was comfort him.

“It’s all right, Nicholas. I’m sorry to have pressed the matter, and I’m sorry that I spied on you. I do love you and I trust you, so from now on, I’ll leave the matter be.”

Chapter 11

Thanksgiving drew near and with it the haunting reminder of Julie’s death. Daughtry found herself thinking about her sister, even when she didn’t want to. Julie would have been eighteen. Thoughts of her naturally turned Daughtry’s mind to her father. She was both worried and relieved that he’d done nothing to interfere in her life. Was he so angry that he no longer cared?

“It’s a beautiful day out here, Daughtry!” Nicholas called from just outside the back door.

Daughtry made her way outside, wearing only her dark green wool skirt and long-sleeved calico blouse. “Yes,” she murmured, relishing the reminder of summer. “I think I’ll do the wash outside today.”

Nicholas mounted his horse and gave her an admonishing look. “Don’t overdo it and don’t stay outside if it turns cold. I don’t want you getting sick.”

Daughtry grinned at his fatherly words. “I’m surprised you’re willing to leave me here alone.”

“I’m not very happy about the idea,” Nicholas said, “but you’re insistent on having fresh turkey for Thanksgiving, and since the Shaunasseys offered to sell me one of their birds, I guess I’ll just have to overlook my discomfort.”

“Oh, go on with you, now,” Daughtry said and reached out to smack the horse on the rump. Instead, Nicholas caught her hand and lowered his lips to her fingers.

“Please stay out of trouble,” he whispered. “I’ve grown very fond of you, Mrs. Dawson.”

Daughtry’s heart warmed to his words. “And I, you, Mr. Dawson.”

With nothing more said, Nicholas took off for his five-mile ride to the Shaunasseys, while Daughtry went back inside to ready her laundry.

With most of the wash done by noon, Daughtry was just putting away her wash tub and scrub board when the unmistakable sound of a wagon caught her attention. Peering around the house, Daughtry was pleased to see the freighter, Tom O’Toole, making his way up the long Dawson drive.

She quickly hurried inside to put on coffee and arrange a plate of cookies, while Tom completed the trip to the barn. He was bringing in the last of their ordered supplies for winter, and Daughtry was hopeful that he might have thought to bring the mail as well.

“Afternoon, Mrs. Dawson,” the man said, jumping to the ground.

“Afternoon, Tom,” Daughtry replied. “When you finish there, I’ve got hot coffee and cinnamon cookies for you.”

“That ought to make my work pass quicklike,” he announced. Pulling down a heavy crate, Tom motioned. “This here is a bunch of them canned goods you asked for last time. It just came in from Denver.”

“Oh, good,” Daughtry replied. “You can bring that on up to the house, and I’ll get to work putting it away.”

Tom nodded and followed Daughtry into the house, where he deposited the crate, requested a hammer, and pulled the nailed lid off. Daughtry immediately went to work, while Tom made his way back outside.

Humming to herself, Daughtry felt good about their filled pantry. There was more than enough food to tide them over for a great many months, if necessary. Nicholas, however, seemed to think that even if heavy snows buried them, a good strong prairie wind would most likely clear a path to town. With that in mind, Daughtry didn’t worry much about the distance.

She was nearly finished when Tom gave a heavy knock on the door and bounded into the room. “All done out there,” he said, and Daughtry poured him a mug of coffee and pointed him to the chair.

“You just rest awhile and help yourself to those cookies. Nicholas has gone over to the Shaunasseys’ to get our Thanksgiving turkey.”

“Me and the missus are planning on heading up to Raton for Thanksgiving. She’s got a sister there and nieces and nephews, and since it wasn’t that far by train, we thought it might make a nice trip before the snows set in.”

“It does sound like fun,” Daughtry said half-heartedly, for, in truth, she loved her little hideaway home and didn’t desire to travel away from it, even to visit her family.

“You got kin nearby?” Tom asked, draining his coffee and reaching for a third cookie. Daughtry started to refill his cup but he waved her off. “I still have two more deliveries to make, so I’d best be on my way.” He got to his feet, and Daughtry followed him out of the house.

“This weather is sure enough pleasant,” Tom said, making his way to the wagon. “I could do without the snow for awhile.”

“Me too,” Daughtry replied. “Well, take care, Tom.” She waited while he climbed up into the worn wooden seat of his freight wagon.

“Oh, I plum forgot,” he said, reaching under the seat. “I brought the mail for you.”

Daughtry’s face lit up, hoping that maybe a newspaper or magazine might be included in his delivery. Nicholas had ordered several magazines for her when they were last in town, and Daughtry was beginning to think they’d never arrive. To her disappointment, though, Tom handed down only a single envelope.

“This one’s for you,” he said and picked up the reins. “I’ll be seeing you, Mrs. Dawson.” He snapped the reins and took off on his route while Daughtry stared at the unmistakable handwriting of her father.

With shaking hands, Daughtry forced herself to open the letter. She waited until she made it back to the kitchen table, however, to read it. She was feeling weak in the knees and almost green with anxiety by the time she unfolded the single page.

Daughtry stared down at the words in disbelief. Her father was coming! She read the brief statement of when he planned to arrive and found that the date in his letter matched the one on the calendar. Her father planned to arrive today!

Daughtry dropped the letter on the table. If her father showed up and Nicholas were not there to prevent him from taking her back, what would she do? Feeling sick inside, Daughtry got up from the table and began to pace.

“Dear Lord,” she whispered, “I know that sinful nature got me here. I know that I was out and out disobedient, but, Father, I love Nicholas and I don’t want my father to take me back to Piñon Canyon. I want to stay here and be Nicholas’s wife.” She paused and realized her prayer was more the uncontrollable babblings of a rebellious child. She folded her hands together and took a deep breath.

“Show me what I need to do, Father. Show me how to make this right. Please forgive me for going against my father’s wishes, and help my father to understand why I did what I did and to forgive me for hurting him. Amen.”

Daughtry felt only marginally better. She knew that God was in charge and would take care of everything. She even knew that He’d already forgiven her for her willful disobedience. Daughtry couldn’t wash away the feelings of helplessness, however.

A quick glance at the clock on the wall started Daughtry panicking again. He plans to arrive today, she thought, but when? Finally, Daughtry decided she’d ride over to the Shaunasseys’ and get Nicholas. She could face anything with Nicholas at her side.

Despite the nice weather, she put on heavy wool stockings and a wool, split skirt. She pulled on her riding boots and grabbed a warm, fitted jacket to throw in her saddle bag in case the weather turned cool. Then suddenly, without really knowing that she was packing, Daughtry found herself throwing together gloves, a bonnet, her jeans, and one of Nicholas’s thick flannel shirts. When she’d gathered these things, Daughtry took two wool blankets and rolled all of it together into a pack that would fit behind her saddle.

Somewhere in the midst of her worry, Daughtry knew she was running away again, but her mind wouldn’t let her reason out the truth.

“I can’t go to Nicholas,” she said aloud, “or I might pass Daddy on the way.” The thought of being already en route when her father caught up with her made Daughtry believe he’d have just that much easier of a time forcing her home.

Running with the pack into the kitchen, Daughtry laid out provisions for herself, including matches, a small pot, and a generous amount of food. She stuffed as much as she could into her saddle bags, then leaving the kitchen in complete disarray, she grabbed her things and ran for the barn.

❧

Nicholas was in a good mood as he made his way home that afternoon. He had a nice fat turkey confined in a crate on the back of his rather skeptical horse and two warm loaves of pumpkin bread in the saddle bags behind him. His mood was founded on more than the food, however. He was going home to her. Home to his wife. Daughtry!

He hadn’t realized how much he’d come to love her until he spent time away from her. This was the first time since she’d arrived that he’d spent nearly an entire day without her by his side. Even the time he’d had to take the outlaws into the sheriff hadn’t amounted to more than a couple of hours.

Anxious to hold her in his arms and see her pleasure at the turkey, Nicholas urged his horse into a gallop and hurried for home.

Nicholas approached the house without giving much thought to the cloud of dust that rose to his right. He was preoccupied with his thoughts and didn’t even see the riders until he was bringing his horse to a stop just outside the barn.

Nicholas thought to dismount but sat instead with his eyes fixed on the riders. Without being told, he knew they were Daughtry’s father and three of her brothers.

“Well, Lord,” he whispered against the silence, “I guess this is it. I’m about to answer for what I’ve done with this man’s daughter. I could sure use some direction in how to come under my father-in-law’s good graces.”

The riders approached, slowing to a slow walk until they were directly in front of Nicholas. The older of the three pressed his horse forward until he was nearly nose to nose with Nicholas.

“You Nicholas Dawson?” Garrett Lucas asked from between clenched teeth.

“I am,” Nicholas replied softly. “You must be. . .” He never got the words out, because Garrett flew across the saddle and knocked Nicholas off of his horse and to the ground.

Chapter 12

After two well-placed blows against Nicholas’s face, Garrett’s sons managed to pull their father off the stunned man. Nicholas refused to fight back and got to his feet slowly. Knocking the dust from his backside, he moved away a step, while Garrett strained at the resistance of his sons.

“You have to answer for what you’ve done!” Garrett declared. His face was reddened with anger.

Nicholas rubbed his jaw and a hint of a smile played at his bloodied lip. “I think I just did.”

Garrett was livid and refused to be humored. “Where’s my daughter? Where’s Daughtry?”

“I would imagine in the house. As you can see for yourself, I just got back,” Nicholas replied gingerly. He didn’t believe his jaw was broken, but it hurt nevertheless.

“Dad, you promised to be levelheaded about this,” one of the boys was saying. Nicholas watched as the other two nodded in agreement. Maybe Daughtry’s brothers were able to see that their sister had a right to make her own choices.

“Don’t tell me what I said, Joseph!”

“He’s right, Dad. Daughtry told us in the letter that she’s happy. Why don’t we let her tell us otherwise.”

Garrett seemed to relax a bit, and Nicholas’s took the opportunity to speak. “I’m sorry, I truly am. Not for having married your daughter, but for the way we went about it. I know what Daughtry put in her letter, so I know that you realize I was completely unaware of your existence when she married me. It’s a poor excuse, I know, but I hope in time you will forgive me.”

Garrett stared at Nicholas for several minutes.

“I’m Garrett Lucas,” he finally said. “These are my sons, Gavin, Dolan, and Joseph.”

“Pleased to meet all of you,” Nicholas responded. He didn’t offer his hand, feeling if he did he might be forcing the issue a bit. Instead, he motioned to the horses. “What say we tie these fellows up and you let me put my turkey in the barn, and we’ll go inside and talk this out with Daughtry.”

The other men nodded. Nicholas could see the boys speaking in low whispers to Garrett, while they tied the horses to the corral fence and waited for their host. They seemed like good men, he thought to himself, and he smiled. Of course they were good men; they were Daughtry’s family.

Making his way to where they awaited him, Nicholas took the lead. “Come on inside.”

Nicholas immediately sensed that all was not right when he entered the kitchen. Things were strewn about in a haphazard way that was not indicative of his wife’s normal sense of order. For a minute he stood in the silence, while Garrett and the boys glanced around the room.

“Daughtry!” he called out, but in his heart, Nicholas knew she wouldn’t answer.

He rushed from one room to the next, and when he saw the same disarray in the bedroom that had greeted him in the kitchen, Nicholas knew that she was gone. Panic filled his soul. Had friends of the men he’d jailed come for him and taken her instead?

The fear was clear in Nicholas’s eyes as he returned to the kitchen. “She’s not here. I’m going to check the barn and see if her horse is gone. You wait here,” he instructed and ran out the back door.

Nicholas began to pray as he’d never done before. “Dear God, keep her safe. Please don’t let any harm come to her. Oh, God, please help me find her.”

When Nicholas realized the horse was indeed missing, he made his way back to the house with a heavy heart. Where was she? The light was fading and the wind was picking up, causing a chill to fill the air. Where was Daughtry?

The defeat on his face made it clear to Garrett that Nicholas was more than a little upset at finding Daughtry gone. “Where do you suppose she got off to?” Garrett asked, trying to keep his voice even.

Just then, Nicholas spied the letter on the table. He picked it up, praying that it might be some note of explanation from Daughtry.

“She’s run away again,” Nicholas muttered and handed the letter to Garrett. “She found out you were due to be here and, what with me gone, she was afraid.”

“Afraid? Of me?” Garrett nearly growled in disbelief.

Nicholas nodded his head. “She’s been in a real stew since we married. Always looking over her shoulder, wondering when you were going to come and take her by force.”

“She was afraid of me,” Garrett stated sadly as if all the wind had gone out from him. “I don’t know why she thought I would try to make her unhappy.”

“It’s not important now. What is important is that we find her,” Gavin offered, and Nicholas nodded.

“I just wanted her to make good choices,” Garrett said, trying to explain himself.

“She’s a good woman,” Nicholas responded without hesitancy. “She makes good choices.”

“Ha,” Garrett sounded. “She doesn’t seem to have made a very good one this time. She’s out there somewhere, only God knows where, and she’s alone. It’s getting colder and. . .”

“I’m going after her,” Nicholas said and turned to leave. “You make yourselves comfortable here, in case she comes back.”

“No,” Garrett replied, “I’m going after her. She’s my daughter, and if I caused this like you said, then I’ll find her.”

“She’s my responsibility now,” Nicholas said a bit more forcefully than he’d intended.

“And I say she’s still under my authority and protection,” Garrett replied, coming to stand only inches from Nicholas. “I was there when she came into this world, and God gave me charge over her.”

“But I married her, and that authority now falls to me,” Nicholas replied softly. “I love her as much as you do.”

“You may love her,” Garrett answered, “but she’s still my daughter. Flesh of my flesh and blood of my blood.”

Nicholas nodded. “I know. But she’s my wife, and she’s carrying our child.”

Garrett’s mouth dropped open at this sudden declaration. A part of him wanted to fight Nicholas all over again, while another part of him stood in awed amazement.

“A baby?” he questioned in disbelief.

“Yes,” Nicholas replied.

“Why don’t we stop this nonsense,” Gavin finally spoke up. “We should go together. With all of us looking, we’re bound to find her sooner.”

“He’s right,” Nicholas said, seeing the change in Garrett. “Let’s all go. I’ve a feeling she won’t be all that far.”

“Yeah, but we’re talking about my sister,” Dolan joked. “She’s very stubborn, and who knows where that’ll take her.”

Nicholas grinned. “She’s had good training, though. I know Daughtry can take care of herself.” Grabbing his coat, he added, “I’ll tell you about her fixing the roof while we ride.”

❧

Daughtry had found the perfect place to make camp for the night. She had ridden for several hours before coming to a rocky wall barrier. As she paralleled it for a short time, the sky began to grow dark, and Daughtry realized she’d have to stop and take shelter. She also noticed that the air was getting cold.

At the first sound of water, Daughtry felt a bit of contentment wash over her. She’d have a good camp for both Nutmeg and herself. Bringing the horse to a stop by the stream, Daughtry quickly went to work, and before the last few glimmers of late autumn sun had faded behind the mountain peaks, she had a nice fire going.

She thought how beautiful the night was and how the tiny pinpricks of light that were millions of stars in the sky seemed to keep her company through the loneliness of her vigil. “I know I’ve brought this on myself, Father,” she prayed. “But I just didn’t know what else to do. I wanted to trust You to work it out. I wanted to have faith that everything would be all right, but I was so frightened.”

The wind picked up a bit, and Daughtry hugged a blanket close to her. Foolish or not, she was out here alone and had to make the most of it. Garrett Lucas had raised his children to be capable of caring for themselves outdoors, and Daughtry was certainly no exception to that rule. As the fire began to die down, she tossed several large logs on the coals and settled down for the night.

“Oh, Nicholas,” she sighed against the haunting sounds of the canyon winds. “I need you.”

Chapter 13

Daughtry tried to sleep but couldn’t. Perhaps the hour was just not late enough, she reasoned; after all, the sun had only been down for an hour, maybe two. In frustration, she sat up and leaned back against the rock to contemplate her actions.

In the distant night she could make out little noises, but nothing that offered either comfort or fear. She thought of her life and all that she’d known.

This region of New Mexico was still very rustic. They didn’t have electricity to the outlying houses, and while most of the towns sported not only electricity but running water, telephones, and automobiles, Daughtry’s world hadn’t consisted of any of these things. She felt as though she stood between the past and the future, not really taking hold of either one.

She smiled to herself as she thought of Nicholas building the small addition off the kitchen to house the bathtub. He’d seemed so happy when he realized how much pleasure it gave Daughtry.

They were a strange couple, Daughtry thought. “How could two people who had never before met be so perfect for each other?” she questioned the air. Clearly, the hand of God had been working in spite of human rebellion and disobedience.

Daughtry frowned. Her father was no doubt at her house right this very minute. What a coward she was to leave Nicholas to face him alone. She hugged her knees to her chest. Oh, God, she prayed, please help him. Help Nicholas to deal evenhandedly with my father, and help my father to keep his temper under control.

She must have dozed, or so she figured, because suddenly the sound of horses clipping at a slow, even pace caused her to jerk upright. Getting to her feet, Daughtry was further stunned to see her husband, father, and three of her brothers ride casually into camp as though they were there for supper.

Standing with her mouth open and her eyes wide, Daughtry was speechless. Nicholas jumped down from his horse, throwing the reins to Joseph, while Garrett dismounted and handed his to Gavin. Before she could utter a single protest, Nicholas had her in his arms and was turning her around as if to inspect every single inch of her.

“She looks to be in one piece,” she heard her husband mutter.

Still Daughtry could say nothing, and not until Nicholas completely shocked her by handing her over to her father to continue the examination, did Daughtry finally voice her protest.

“Stop this at once!” she exclaimed and pushed away from her father. “I’m not a helpless child, you know. I’m perfectly fine—or at least I was until you all got here.”

She looked from the two men at her side to her brothers. “How dare you interfere in my life this way! I’m old enough to know my own mind. You can’t just waltz in here and think to control me!”

Garrett glanced at Nicholas and received one of his lazy, I-told-you-so grins. “I think you should spank her,” Garrett said with a slow drawl.

“Sp–sp–spank me?” Daughtry sputtered, completely enraged. “You think he should spank me?”

“That’s right,” Garrett replied.

“If he doesn’t want to do the job, I’ll do it,” Gavin called down from his mount.

“You’re all insufferable.” Daughtry put hands on her hips and struck a defiant pose. “I’m a grown woman and. . .”

“You may be a grown woman, but you haven’t got a lick of sense,” Garrett replied.

“I have plenty of sense.”

“Then what are you doing out here when you have a perfectly fine home?” Garrett questioned.

Daughtry looked to her husband for help, but Nicholas looked away as if to keep from laughing.

Daughtry crossed her arms. “I wouldn’t be out here at all if it hadn’t been for the way you treated me. I may have run off, but you forced me to make that decision.”

“I know,” he said in a dejected tone that immediately softened Daughtry’s heart.

Garrett pushed his black Stetson back and drew a deep breath. “I know I’ve been unfair to you, Daughtry. It’s just that ever since Julie died, I guess I felt like I had to keep a better eye on you. I couldn’t get past feeling that if I’d only watched her closer, made her take someone with her when she rode, that maybe she’d be alive today. You’ll feel different when you have your child. You’ll know just how much a child means to a parent.”

Daughtry reached out to touch her father’s cheek. “I know. I miss her too. And I also feel guilty.”

“Guilty for what?” Garrett asked in complete surprise.

“For being angry with her. Angry that she died. Angry that because of the way she died, I had to bear the consequences.” Garrett grimaced at the latter, but Daughtry continued. “We all miss her, but overprotecting me won’t change the fact that she’s gone to heaven and we’re still here.”

“You’re right, of course,” Garrett answered and opened his arms. “Will you forgive me?”

Daughtry melted into her father’s embrace. “Of course,” she sighed. “I forgave you a long time ago. If it hadn’t been for our confrontation, I might never have met Nicholas—and, Daddy, I do love him. I didn’t just marry him to get away from home. He’s a good man, and he loves God.”

Garrett glanced over her shoulder at Nicholas.

“I’m glad you love him, Daughtry.”

As if reading her father’s feelings, Daughtry pulled back. “I’ll always love you too, Daddy. Please forgive me for the way I’ve done things. I know I was wrong. You and Momma brought me into the world and raised me up to love God and my fellow man—and now it’s time for me to go on and live my life with Nicholas.”

Garrett nodded. “I know. Just as Julie’s death isn’t the end, I know that your marriage is just the beginning of many wonderful things. Nicholas helped me to see that. He helped me to realize that life and death are just a part of the circle that makes us who we are. Julie may be gone, but now there’s your baby and life starts anew.”

Daughtry dropped her hold on Garrett and stepped back a pace. “My what?” Her mouth dropped open in stunned silence.

Garrett looked at Nicholas. Nicholas stepped forward with a sheepish grin.

“I think Daughtry’s been a bit preoccupied these last few weeks even to realize that she’s expecting,” he offered by way of explanation. “But I feel very confident that she is.”

Daughtry felt her face flush. She calculated the days of their marriage, her monthly cycles, and felt a strange knowledge settle over her. “A baby!” She looked up at Nicholas who seemed quite pleased to have known before even she did.

Without warning, she felt her knees buckle and she fell forward into her father. Garrett managed to take hold of her under the arms, and, looking at Nicholas with a telling smile, he unceremoniously handed the unconscious Daughtry over to him.

“Good luck,” Garrett said with a laugh. “You’re going to need it.”

Quite awhile later, Daughtry and Nicholas made their way to bed. Garrett and the boys had taken up residency in the front sitting room, refusing to let Daughtry and Nicholas even think of giving up their room.

Daughtry brushed her long coppery hair and thought of the news that she was to be a mother. How could she have been so caught up in her guilt and fears that she hadn’t realized she was with child? She was almost humiliated that her husband had to be the one to point the news out to her.

Just then Nicholas came in, deposited his boots, and got ready for bed. Daughtry turned and stared at him for a moment. He was so very handsome with his dark hair and broad shoulders. She liked the way he moved with catlike grace and confidence.

Realizing that she was watching him, Nicholas turned and smiled. Daughtry’s hand automatically went to her stomach in wonder. How could it be that they were to become parents? Why had God chosen to bless their union so early on with such a miracle?

“How?” Daughtry questioned, getting up and slipping into bed. “How did you know?”

Nicholas shrugged and eased into the covers. “I’m not stupid. I know all about women. I have a mother after all. Not to mention my sisters.”

“Imagine that,” Daughtry said rather sarcastically. “You have sisters.”

“Yes, I have two sisters and a brother,” Nicholas replied. “I am the oldest.”

“I see.”

“Lance is twenty-eight,” Nicholas continued, knowing her unspoken questions. “Natalie is twenty-five and Joelle is nineteen. So, you see, I am more than a little familiar with things that pertain to the female species.”

Daughtry blushed and shook her head. “I can’t believe that I didn’t realize what was happening.”

“I thought maybe you did,” Nicholas replied. “But when we went to town and I told you to get anything you thought you might need, and you only worried about my underwear—well, then I knew that you didn’t know.”

Daughtry laughed. “You must think me pathetic.”

Nicholas opened his arms to her, and Daughtry slid into them eagerly. “I would never think you pathetic,” Nicholas answered softly. “You are most precious to me.”

Daughtry leaned her head against his chest. “You aren’t angry, are you? About the baby, I mean.”

“Why would I be angry?”

“Well, it certainly happened a lot quicker than I anticipated, so I figure it must be just as shocking for you.”

“It did surprise me,” Nicholas admitted, “but once I realized that it was most likely true, I kind of liked the idea.”

“It’s just so amazing and wondrous,” Daughtry said, her hand going again to her abdomen. “But, I couldn’t bear it if you were unhappy.” She lifted her face to his, her eyes huge pools of blue.

“I couldn’t be more happy about it,” Nicholas replied and kissed her forehead. “If you’ll recall, I was the one who planned for a dozen or so.”

Daughtry laughed. “Well, one down and eleven to go.”

Nicholas joined her laughter with his own, then suddenly grew sober. “Daughtry, you have to promise me that you’ll be more careful. I nearly died when I came home and found you gone. I know you were scared, but so many things could have happened to you out there. Not to mention that I’m still not all that sure we’re safe from my past.”

His words both startled and frustrated her. Why wouldn’t he tell her what past it was that he was running from?

Daughtry eased up on one elbow to study him for a moment. She was about to protest his silence when she saw something in his eyes that made her want to comfort him. She placed her hand on his chest and smiled. “Whatever you decide is fine by me. If you need to leave this place, you’ll do so with me by your side.”

“No questions asked?” Nicholas whispered, staring hard at his wife.

“No questions asked.”

Morning light brought the blended family together at breakfast. For the first time, Daughtry used her dining room table and chairs and enjoyed preparing a feast fit for an army. Nicholas spoke about the ranch with her father and brothers, while Daughtry made sure that all the cups were filled with steaming coffee and that no one went away hungry.

“I’ve got a great deal to learn,” Nicholas confessed. “But Daughtry’s been a tremendous help.”

“She ought to be. She’s grown up ranching all her life. Piñon Canyon is probably the largest ranch in New Mexico, although I’ve never concerned myself with such things. We do a good business in beef and horses,” Garrett said between forkfuls of food. “There’s certainly enough business there, and I always presumed it would pass equally to all of my children.” As he spoke, an idea came to Garrett and he put down his fork.

“What say you and Daughtry come live at Piñon Canyon for the winter? I could teach you firsthand all that you’d need to know to get this place running, and, come spring, I would send you off with a starter herd of the best cattle this side of the Mississippi.”

Daughtry looked at her father in surprise, then to Nicholas. What would he think of the offer, she wondered? She didn’t have long to contemplate as Nicholas raised his eyes to hers. They both thought back to the day of the shootout, and Daughtry nodded as if in answer to Nicholas’s unspoken question.

“I think we’d both like that,” Nicholas replied, and Daughtry nodded and continued seeing to her brothers’ plates.

Garrett couldn’t have been more surprised or grateful. “Good,” he answered, feeling the first real peace since Daughtry left home. “I don’t think you’ll be sorry.”

“I’m sure we won’t be,” Nicholas replied. “We won’t need to do much here, maybe just board up the windows so that no harm comes to them. We’ll take our horses with us, and there’s no other livestock or obligation to contend with.”

“What about our turkey?” Daughtry asked with a grin. “I can hear him out there even now.” Everybody laughed, having heard the turkey’s protests through much of the night.

“We’ll take him with us,” Garrett announced. “We ought to be home in time for Thanksgiving, and he’ll make a great main course.”

Chapter 14

Nicholas stared down at the mammoth ranch that spread across the endless valley. Nestled between the mountains was Piñon Canyon, the home where Daughtry had grown up. He looked in awe from the empire below, to the man who owned it all, and finally to his wife.

“Like it?” she questioned with a grin. “You should see it in the springtime when all the grass is newly green and the wildflowers are blooming.”

Nicholas nodded. “I can only imagine. It’s easy to see why you love it.” Daughtry smiled. She’d only recently told Nicholas of her fondness for her childhood home.

Her father and brothers moved ahead on the trail, leaving Nicholas and Daughtry to themselves. “When I left,” Daughtry said, remembering her escape, “I thought I was leaving a terrible place. A prison. Now I can see that it was more the way I perceived things inside and not at all the way it really was.”

“Can you be happy here again?” Nick questioned, reaching out to touch her arm.

Daughtry gave him a radiant smile, and, in spite of the blustery cold winds that came down from the mountain, she was warm and content. “I can be happy anywhere that you are.”

Maggie Lucas fussed and pampered her daughter from the moment she got down from her horse. Arm in arm, they walked off toward the house, while the men saw to the horses and gear.

“He’s very nice looking, this Nicholas Dawson,” Maggie said, bringing Daughtry a steaming cup of hot chocolate.

“Yes, he is. He’s also very kind and considerate, and he’s a Christian, Momma.”

“That’s good,” Maggie said, and Daughtry heard the unmistakable sound of relief in her voice.

“I’m truly sorry for the way I acted.” Daughtry put the cup down and looked up at her mother. “I know I must have just about broke your heart in two, and I can’t live with myself any longer. Will you please forgive me for running off and hurting you like I did?”

Maggie put her arms around Daughtry and hugged her close. “I could see how bad things were. I only wanted you to be happy, but I knew how miserable you were. I tried to talk to your father, and he only snapped at me. There’s nothing to forgive. I knew in my heart, after learning that you’d left, that God was with you and that He’d guide you safely. It gave me a great deal of peace, even when I didn’t know where you were.”

“Why did it take Daddy so long to show up?” Daughtry suddenly asked.

“He was mad and real hurt. Mostly because he knew he was responsible for your actions. At first he refused to even deal with it but, as time passed, I could see the anger burning inside him like a spark just waiting for kindling to feed its flame. One day, he marched in here, told Gavin and Dolan to saddle up, and announced he was going to find you and this man who’d stolen you from him.”

Daughtry smiled and pulled away from her mother. “I take it Joey went along to keep the peace.”

Maggie nodded. “You know Joseph.” This time Daughtry nodded, while Maggie continued. “That’s what happened here. How about what happened at your end?”

“I got Daddy’s letter and it spooked me. I’m sorry to say I ran away again, because Nicholas was at a neighbor’s house and wasn’t due home for awhile. I had no idea how soon Daddy would arrive, so I packed a horse and left. I figured I’d rather camp out in the cold than face his wrath alone. Besides, I was so scared he’d take me away and I’d never see Nicholas again.”

“What happened then?”

Daughtry laughed. “They all came riding into my camp as big as you please. Nick was sporting a bruised face, and Daddy was wearing skinned knuckles. I heard later that Nick wouldn’t even defend himself. Just let Daddy have at him, then asked him to forgive him for marrying me.”

“He is quite a man,” Maggie said in surprised awe.

“You don’t know the half of it,” Daughtry said with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “I have a surprise for you.”

“What?” Maggie cocked her head to one side as if trying to figure out what her daughter would say next.

“Daddy asked us to live here for the winter, so that he could teach Nicholas all about ranching.”

“And your husband agreed?”

“He did,” Daughtry said with great happiness. “But we’re going home in the spring, and Daddy promised to send us with some prime stock to start our own herd.”

“Well, I am impressed,” Maggie said, taking a seat beside her daughter.

“And,” Daughtry added, reaching out to take hold of her mother’s hand, “I have one more surprise. I’m going to have a baby.”

“A baby!”

Her mother looked as though she might faint, and Daughtry squeezed her hand. “I was so worried about Daddy coming to take me away that I didn’t even know it myself, until Nicholas pointed out the obvious things.”

“A baby,” Maggie said again, this time more steadily. “I’m going to be a grandmother. Wait until Lillie hears this one.”

Daughtry laughed. “You’ll no doubt have me knee-deep in sewing projects, and before the winter is over, I’ll have enough clothes for triplets.”

The women were still laughing when the men came in the room. Maggie got up and received a heartfelt kiss from her husband, while Nicholas went to Daughtry’s side and waited to be introduced.

“Momma, this is Nicholas, my husband,” Daughtry said proudly.

Maggie surprised Nicholas by brushing aside his extended hand as she threw her arms around him in a motherly hug. “Welcome home, Nicholas,” she said with love. “I’m so glad to have acquired another son.”

❧

Nicholas spent most of his waking hours with Garrett and Daughtry’s brothers. He worked harder than he’d ever worked in his life and knew that he was in many ways facing up to whatever tests Garrett could put him through. At night he collapsed into a tub of hot water, which Daughtry always saw was ready for him, then he would crawl into bed, more asleep than awake.

More than one night, Daughtry would lie beside her husband and watch him. His dark black hair would curl just at the collar and beg her touch, but Daughtry was always careful not to disturb him. She knew her father was working him too hard, but she reasoned that both men had something to prove and, for now, she’d not interfere.

Daughtry settled into the routine with misgivings. She missed the days when Nicholas had belonged just to her. Their ranch hadn’t been so demanding, and Nicholas could take plenty of time to stop and talk or hold her. Now, however, she rarely saw him until dinner time, and by then he was so tired he didn’t care whether he was married or not.

At dinner one night, the family finally began to feel comfortable enough to ask Nicholas questions and one of the first was about his family.

“My mother and father are both still living. They live near Kansas City, where my father handles investments.”

Daughtry hung onto every word but tried to appear as though this was all old news to her. She wasn’t about to inform her family that Nicholas hadn’t seen fit to confide in her.

“And do you have brothers and sisters, Nick?” Maggie questioned and Daughtry jumped in to reply.

“He has a brother and two sisters,” she said confidently before Nicholas could get a word in edgewise. She looked over at her husband, daring him to say more, but Nicholas just grinned and went on eating.

“I guess I still don’t understand how you could just up and marry a fellow after you read about him in the paper,” Jordy said and turned to Nicholas. “No offense, I think you’re as good a man for a brother-in-law as any, but my sister’s always been rather picky.”

Everyone laughed at this but Daughtry. “I’m not picky, just cautious.”

“So cautious you answered a stranger’s letter out of the Denver Post and sneaked away in the night to marry him? He could have been three times your age and given to fits of rage for all you knew,” Gavin said.

“He is given to small fits,” Daughtry laughed.

“So what made you do it?” Jordy pressed his luck. “I mean, other than getting away from here?”

Daughtry put her fork down and stared at Nicholas for a moment. “I fell in love with his picture.”

Garrett and the boys thought this hysterical and started laughing and slapping the table. Nicholas looked across the table at Daughtry and winked at her blushing face, while Maggie cleared her throat loud enough that the others quieted down.

“That’s a silly reason to get married,” Jordy replied.

“Sure is,” Garrett seconded. “Imagine, marrying someone just because you’ve fallen in love with their picture. Why, for all you knew, he hadn’t even sent you a picture of himself. It could have been anyone’s picture.”

“I seem to recall,” Maggie began slowly, concentrating on moving the food around her plate, “a certain love-sick cowboy who fell in love with a ‘spitfire of a girl’ as he called her. This man had never met this girl,” Maggie continued, “but her father had a portrait of her hanging in his house and that cowboy fell in love with her after staring many hours at it.”

Everyone fell into silence as all eyes were drawn to Garrett. Garrett looked across the table at his wife and smiled. Their romance had begun very nearly as she said, and now their daughter had gone and fallen for her mate in much the same way.

“Is it true, Daddy?” Daughtry asked with a hint of laughter in her voice.

“No,” Garrett said, surprising Maggie. Her eyes narrowed questioningly, but he quickly continued. “I fell in love with her the first time I saw the portrait, not after hours of studying it.” Maggie’s smile broadened, and the boys broke into laughter.

“What about you, Nick?” Don suddenly asked.

All heads turned and waited for Nicholas to reply. Even Daughtry couldn’t imagine what he might say, and her hand froze in mid-air, her water glass clutched in her fingers, as she waited for his answer.

“I prayed a lot about a wife,” Nicholas finally answered. “I was never much the courting type, and even though I had plenty of women giving me the chase, I just wasn’t interested in settling down. But I guess I started to see the benefits of having a partner, and so I prayed, then put the advertisement in the paper.” His eyes never left Daughtry as he spoke. “Then your sister answered and sent her picture—and while I thought her a remarkably good-looking woman, I can’t say that I fell head-over-heels just then.”

“What was it then?” Jordy piped up to ask.

“I guess I was intrigued by her letter,” Nicholas responded, seeing the disappointment that flickered across Daughtry’s face as she lowered her head to drink. “Of course, once I met her I knew she was exactly what I needed. She’s everything a man could want in a wife.”

Jordy thought the answer reasonable and continued the conversation by telling of a letter he’d received from some girl in town. The laughter around her did little to revive Daughtry’s spirits. Something in Nicholas’s response troubled her, and while she couldn’t quite figure out what it was, it remained between them nevertheless.

Chapter 15

Daughtry let her frustration boil until morning when she had no other recourse but to vent her emotions at Nicholas. She’d had too much time to think about things and her imagination was running wild.

“Why did you marry me?” she questioned while Nicholas was dressing.

“What?”

“You heard me. Why did you marry me? Why did you push for a quick wedding by proxy? Why didn’t you just come here if you wanted a fast wedding?”

Nicholas stopped buttoning his shirt and stared at Daughtry for a moment. He recognized the barely controlled anger in her eyes. “What happened to no questions asked?”

“What happened to sharing your life with me?” Daughtry asked simply.

“What’s this all about?”

“It’s about us,” Daughtry replied rather indignantly. “It’s about who you are and why you wanted me to marry you. It’s about you being intrigued by my letter, but not in love with me.”

“But I love you now,” Nicholas offered.

“I want to know the truth, Nicholas. I want to know what you are hiding and why you refuse to trust me.”

Nicholas winced at her words. He stared blankly at the wall behind Daughtry for a moment, then in a sad voice said, “Proverbs 19:13 says, ‘A foolish son is the calamity of his father; and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.’ ”

“Are you calling me contentious? Just because I ask for the truth?” Daughtry appeared truly hurt, and Nicholas wished to ease her pain.

“No,” he shook his head and replied. “I use that verse in reference to myself.” Then he grinned and tried to ease the tension between them. “However, if you’re feeling guilty. . . .”

Daughtry put her hands on her hips and started to say something but held her tongue. Nicholas saw the softening in her eyes. “Why do you call yourself a foolish son?” she finally asked.

Nicholas ran his hands back through his hair and sighed loudly. “You’d better sit down,” he said, coming around to her and pulling out a chair from a nearby desk. Daughtry did as he told her, her eyes never leaving his face.

“I did my share of wild oat sowing when I was young. My folks, good people, saw that I was headed into trouble and began working on me, but I already knew it all, or thought I did, and sought my own way instead. Around the turn of the century, I struck out on my own and hooked up with the wrong crowd. I never really did anything myself, but I was always with one of them when they did something. My name started getting just naturally linked to the kind of bad men that could cause me some major entanglements with the law.”

“Are you a criminal?” Daughtry asked hesitantly.

“No,” Nicholas said and sat down on the edge of the bed directly in front of her. “No, I always managed to stay just inside the law. I was finally taken aside by an older friend of the family and given a good talking to. As a result I ended up getting myself deputized and began working with the law. Unfortunately, my old friends saw it as a means of advantage for their schemes. They figured their old buddy Nick wasn’t about to hand them a prison cell in exchange for the good times they’d showed me.”

“Were you a Christian when all of this was going on?”

“I thought I was. Thought I knew about the Gospel and how to live. But I was just as lost as those outlaws when it came to salvation for my soul. Anyway, years like this went on, and my folks were getting more and more worried about me. My brother had married and so had my sister Natalie, and here I was outrunning bullets and breaking up outlaw gangs.” He paused for a moment to see how she was taking the news.

“Those three men,” Daughtry whispered, “the three you had to turn over to the sheriff, were they. . .?”

“Part of the old Chancellor Gang.”

Daughtry gasped, and Nicholas realized that she knew full well who and what that notorious group represented.

“A couple of the gang died in prison, but most of them were paroled just months before you and I married. Everybody was afraid if I stuck around Missouri, they’d locate me and kill me like they promised. Guess nobody gave them much credit for tracking me down out here.”

“Kill you?” Daughtry hadn’t heard a word past those two.

Nicholas reached out and took her shaking hands into his own. “God helped me to see that I needed more than a casual relationship with Him. When I started thinking about my own mortality and how one of the outlaws I’d helped to put away could just as easily get out and come gunning for me, I knew I wasn’t ready to die.

“My father and mother were beside themselves, however, even before the Chancellors got out of prison. My father cornered me when I turned twenty-eight and told me that he was through giving me free rein to do as I wished. He offered to take me into his investment house, but I knew that wasn’t for me and I refused. So he told me I had until I was thirty to settle down—or else.”

“Or else what?”

Nicholas smiled a little sadly. “He said he’d disinherit me for my own good.”

Daughtry looked at him rather puzzled. “Your own father would do that to you?”

“He knew what he was doing,” Nicholas replied. “He knew that it would shame me into obedience even at twenty-eight. I didn’t want to lose out on the money but, more than that, I didn’t want to alienate myself from the family. I knew there would be a full-scale war between him and my mother, not to mention my sisters and brother if they thought Dad were picking on me.”

“So what did you have to do to meet his demands?” Daughtry said, suddenly feeling fearful of the response. “What constituted settling down?”

“I had to get a reliable profession, a home in one place, and. . .” He paused, unable to finish the sentence.

“And a wife?” Daughtry asked, her eyes wide.

“Yes.”

“And you had to do all of this before you turned thirty?”

“Yes.”

“And when did you turn thirty?”

“September twenty-fifth,” Nicholas replied softly.

Daughtry stared at him in shock for several minutes. “That was the day the proxy would no longer be any good. That’s why you pressed me to hurry and marry you before coming to the ranch.”

“Yes,” Nicholas said and held her hand tightly. “I had to fulfill my father’s requirements. It was important to me. Not just for the inheritance, but because his approval meant a lot to me. I wanted to make him proud of me. I bought the ranch and went about looking into how to be a rancher, then, before I knew it, time had slipped up on me and it was almost too late to get a wife.”

“You used me,” Daughtry said, suddenly feeling ill. The look in her eyes reflected the betrayal she felt.

“Now, wait just a minute,” Nicholas said and took hold of her shoulders firmly. “Isn’t that a bit like the pot calling the kettle black? Did you or did you not answer my advertisement in order to escape your overprotective father?”

“That’s not why I married you!” Daughtry exclaimed. But even as she said it, she remembered only too well having decided not to marry Nicholas. Not until her father had refused to listen to reason did she change her mind, and she knew that was one truth she couldn’t escape.

“And why did you marry me, Daughtry? Surely not because you were head over heels in love with me from all the courting and flowery words I’d spoken. Maybe it was the hours of evening walks by the river or the cards and flowers.” His tone was much too sarcastic for her to bear.

Daughtry jumped to her feet. “I loved you when I married you. I’d fallen in love with your picture and your letter. I thought you’d fallen in love with me as well.”

Nicholas stood and spoke calmly. “I did fall in love with you. I told you the truth when I said that. I can’t help it that I didn’t fall in love with your photograph or letter. I can’t help it that I felt desperate to meet a deadline and didn’t give the matter as much consideration as I should have. I did pray about it, though. I had a good peace about it too. Daughtry, I know without a doubt that God intended us to be together.”

Daughtry tried to grasp all that he said. “Just when did you fall in love with me?”

Nicholas smiled, hoping that her question meant they were making headway. “I’m still falling in love with you,” he answered softly, “but I think I first knew it when I came into the bedroom that morning and found an angel asleep in my bed. You know, we’ve never talked about that.”

“Yes, I know,” Daughtry said, suddenly feeling a bit uncomfortable at the memory. Everything had happened so quickly. Her marriage, getting to know Nicholas, finding herself with child—it had all come on so fast.

Nicholas pulled her to sit with him on the bed. “I came back to the ranch and all I could think about was that you might or might not be there. I knew I wouldn’t have much hope of finding another wife, even though I had two other replies.”

“You had other replies?” Daughtry asked, sounding like a little girl.

Nick grinned. “Yes, I did. But yours was the only one I answered.”

“Oh.”

Nicholas continued, “You can’t imagine what I thought when I’d seen all the work you’d done. I figured at first maybe you’d lied about yourself and sent me someone else’s picture, because there was no way that I figured a little thing like you could accomplish so much in so little time. Then when I walked into the bedroom. . .” He fell silent, closing his eyes to revisit the memory. “When I walked in and found you asleep in my bed, it was like Christmas morning. I knew then that you’d married me by proxy and that my obligations to my father were fulfilled. But,” he said, putting a finger to her lips as she started to protest, “I was completely captivated to know that you belonged to me.”

He pulled her close to him and breathed in the sweet scent of roses and lavender. “You were so beautiful, just lying there asleep.” His words were warm, and Daughtry felt them relaxing her against her will. “Your hair was spilled out across my pillow, and when I reached out to touch it, I just naturally found myself climbing onto the bed. I couldn’t believe how God had blessed me, Daughtry. I still can’t. I love you with all my heart, and I am forever yours. I want to be a good husband to you. I’ve told you everything, and I hope you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me.”

Daughtry looked at him, his dark eyes revealing a conflict of emotions from within. “I can forgive you,” Daughtry finally said, “but I don’t know if I can forget.” She pulled away from him and got to her feet. A shadow of hurt still lingered in her eyes.

Nicholas came to her, but Daughtry held her hand out. “Please don’t touch me. I need to think.”

“Daughtry, even God forgets the past when we ask Him to. I’m not only asking, I’m pleading with you. This isn’t a matter between just you and me now—we have a child to consider as well.”

“I know.”

“If you can forgive me, then please forget what I’ve done to hurt you. Just put it behind you. It’s insignificant and unimportant.”

Daughtry’s eyes flashed anger for just a moment. “It’s important to me,” she said and stormed from the room to contemplate what her husband had revealed.

“Lord,” Nicholas prayed even as Daughtry’s footsteps echoed down the hall, “help her to see that I love her. Forgive me for the deception, and help her to forgive me. I love her, Father, and I know that You’ve brought us together for a purpose. I don’t know what the future will hold in store for us, but You do, and I’m asking You to direct me so that I don’t mess things up again. Amen.”

Chapter 16

Daughtry pulled on her coat and made her way to the barn. She had to get away from the house and Nicholas in order to sort through her feelings. Grabbing a bridle, Daughtry went to the corral, intent on singling out Nutmeg for a ride.

Nutmeg saw Daughtry and whinnied softly, but Poco, after months of neglect and an absent owner, was the one that came to Daughtry. The horse snorted once, then pushed its muzzle against Daughtry’s neck, almost pleading.

“So you want to go for a run, do you, Boy?” Daughtry asked softly while stroking the velvety nose. She looked across the corral at Nutmeg, then secured the bridle on Poco and led the horse to the stable to be saddled.

Several of the ranch hands immediately offered to assist her. She started to refuse, but because of her condition and her own uncertainty as to what she should or shouldn’t do, she finally relented and accepted their help.

Once on Poco’s back, she headed out for a trail she’d ridden most of her life. The air was cold and snow had fallen on the high mountains the night before. The open valley in which the ranch was situated had received only a dusting of snow, though, nothing that Daughtry concerned herself with. Instead, she took the opportunity to pray and think about what Nicholas had said.

“Dear God,” she whispered with a glance heavenward, “I think I need to talk about this. You’re the only One I can explain it all to, because You’re the only One who truly knows what I did and why.”

Poco was used to years of such prayers and kept plodding along as though this were perfectly normal.

“I realize,” Daughtry continued, “that I did wrong in marrying Nicholas the way I did. I wronged him, I wronged my folks, and I wronged You. I made pledges that I shouldn’t have—but now that they’re made, there is certainly no turning back.”

The words of Ecclesiastes 5:2 came to mind. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

Daughtry pondered the Scripture for a moment before resuming her prayer. “I did speak rashly and without any real thought of the consequences,” she admitted. “But I’m not trying to take back my pledge in marriage and my vows to You. I just need to understand them. I need to know what my marriage really and truly means.”

Not that I can do anything to change the past, Daughtry thought to herself. She noted that Poco had followed their old trail high into the rocks, so she slowed the steed down, still contemplating her life before God.

“I love Nicholas,” she told God, “but I’m afraid we both married each other for all the wrong reasons. He needed a wife to please his father and keep his inheritance, and I needed to escape my father’s ever-watchful eye.” She laughed at her choice of words and glanced heavenward again. “I suppose You know all about children who try to escape Your watchfulness.”

❧

Back at the ranch, Nicholas began to worry about Daughtry. He searched through the house and when he found her gone, he tore out, barely grabbing his coat, and headed for the barn.

“Daughtry?” he called as he entered the empty stable. There was no answer.

“Daughtry!” Nicholas called again, coming from the stable. Just then Garrett rounded the corner.

“What’s wrong?” he questioned, seeing the concern on Nicholas’s face.

Nicholas gave a sigh. “Daughtry is upset with me. She stormed out of the house, and I haven’t seen her for about an hour. I thought maybe she went for a ride, but Nutmeg is right there in the corral.”

Garrett quickly surveyed the horses and shook his head. “But Poco’s not.”

“Poco?”

“Her horse and favorite traveling companion before she left home. Nobody else would be inclined to ride him.” Nicholas saw the apprehension in Garrett’s eyes.

“I’d better go find her,” Nicholas replied and went to saddle his horse.

“I’m coming too,” Garrett stated.

The men were saddled and ready to ride within minutes, and without telling anyone else where they were headed, Garrett and Nicholas rode out side by side.

❧

Daughtry felt renewed by her prayers. She could see now that though both she and Nicholas had made mistakes, the focus needed to be taken from the past and placed on the future. They had both been wrong in their actions, but they could easily put those things behind them and start anew. Of this, Daughtry was confident.

Realizing she’d been gone for a considerable amount of time, Daughtry turned Poco around and headed for home. Nicholas had asked her to forget the past and forgive him, and Daughtry intended to do just that. Somehow, together, they would put aside the circumstances under which they married and build a marriage that would be strong and faithful. A marriage that would bind them together, forever.

Daughtry smiled and began to hum to herself. She let Poco pick his way through the narrow canyon path and thought absentmindedly about what she would say to Nicholas. She was so deep in thought that the first few bits of rock falling from the steep canyon wall didn’t even attract her attention. They did, however, cause Poco to stop and prance back a step or two.

Poco’s actions caused Daughtry to snap to attention just as a huge rock slide covered the path directly in front of them. The loose rock combined with small amounts of snow gained momentum and rushed downward to block the passage through the canyon.

“Easy, Poco,” Daughtry whispered and stroked the animal’s neck to offer comfort. “We’re okay.” Daughtry glanced around behind her and knew that she would need to dismount in order to get Poco turned around.

Daughtry slid to the ground and reached out to take Poco’s reins just as another slide captured the horse’s attention and caused him to rear up and whinny nervously. Daughtry barely managed to avoid the pounding hooves.

While backing away from Poco, she lost control of him and the scared horse seized its freedom and ran.

For a moment, all Daughtry could do was stare after Poco’s retreating form. “Great!” she muttered. “Now, I’ll have to walk home.”

Daughtry picked her way through the rubble and moved past the slide area. She knew she would need at least two hours to make the trek home, but what else could she do except begin walking? No one knew where she was, and only Nicholas knew that she was upset. He might even presume that she needed the extra time to sort through her feelings about him. Walking with determined steps, Daughtry would have laughed at herself had the whole situation not been so infuriating.

❧

“Do you have any idea where she might have ridden?” Nicholas asked his father-in-law.

“She has her favorite places. One path in particular,” Garrett responded and pointed to the west. “There’s a secluded path that winds up into the rocky foothills. She always liked to take that route.”

“Let’s check there first,” Nicholas replied.

“Look!” Garrett pointed to the ground. “Tracks! I’d stake my ranch that those belong to Poco.”

The two men followed the tracks that led them in the same direction Garrett had suggested. With a smile, Garrett turned to Nicholas. “Daughtry can be pretty predictable.”

“So far, I haven’t been privileged to see that side of her.”

Garrett laughed. “I think you have. Isn’t this about the third or fourth time you’ve been involved in her running away?”

Nicholas grinned. “I guess I hadn’t thought of it that way. She does seem to favor running rather than dealing with issues head on.”

“She can be quite stubborn,” Garrett agreed. “So can her mother.”

The men had progressed along the path for nearly half an hour when they heard the unmistakable sound of horse hooves pounding through the canyon.

Garrett gave Nicholas a fearful look. “She wouldn’t be riding like that unless something were wrong.”

Just then Poco cleared the canyon and came into view. Nicholas felt his heart in his throat, and Garrett turned ashen at the sight of the riderless horse.

“Dear God,” Garrett whispered, “let her be all right.”

Nicholas pressed forward to halt Poco while Garrett watched in stunned silence. The horse whinnied and snorted at Nicholas, rearing back twice before finally settling down to allow the man access to the reins.

“What do you think?” Nicholas questioned, turning to Garrett.

“In truth, I don’t know what to think. I don’t like to think about it at all. It reminds me of Julie.”

Nicholas nodded. “But the horse is unhurt. Maybe he just got spooked and threw Daughtry.”

“That girl would have to be unconscious to be thrown from this horse. They’re too comfortable with each other. Most likely something happened to cause Daughtry to dismount.”

Nicholas looked hard at his father-in-law. “Have there been any strangers around lately?”

“None that I know of. Why?”

Nicholas shook his head. “It’s nothing. I just wondered if someone could have made her dismount.”

“I doubt there’s anyone around these parts that would want to do harm to Daughtry. Years ago we had banditos to worry about, but they moved off to the south as Bandelero grew. Most likely she got off Poco to see to nature’s call—or some other perfectly logical explanation.” Garrett was trying hard to sound convincing, but in truth, he was desperately frightened for his child.

“You’re probably right,” Nicholas admitted, but the words did nothing to comfort him.

Nicholas tied Poco to his saddle and urged his own mount forward. Before he could go very far, however, Garrett called out to him, “Nick, would you pray with me?”

Nicholas turned to the man who had once wanted to beat him for stealing his daughter. The minute his eyes met Garrett’s, a silent bond was formed. Each man acknowledged, without regret, the position the other held in the life of Daughtry.

With a slow nod, Nicholas waited until Garrett came even, then bowed his head and prayed for his wife.

Chapter 17

Nicholas and Garrett proceeded together, each praying silently and fervently hoping that Daughtry would be found unharmed. In the back of Garrett’s mind was the lifeless body of his fourteen-year-old Julie, only four years earlier. Meanwhile, Nicholas was envisioning the remaining members of the Chancellor gang trying to force his hand, using Daughtry as bait.

Neither man was of a mind to talk.

As the canyon narrowed and they could no longer ride side by side, Garrett edged his horse forward. “I’d better lead,” he told Nicholas, “since I know the lay of the land.” Nicholas nodded and brought up the rear, with Poco trailing behind.

At least in the canyon they were more secluded from the December wind, which was blowing hard and cold across the open valley. High mountain snows capped their surroundings in white, while the red-orange and sandy brown of the rock walls bore only minuscule traces of winter’s impending touch.

Nicholas thought of their own ranch to the east. There they had no mountains to contend with—but no barriers against the harsh snows either. He wondered if they’d made the right decision in coming to Piñon Canyon. While he’d learned a great deal more in the few weeks since they’d arrived than he’d hoped to learn all winter, Nicholas was troubled.

Where was she? Where was Daughtry?

Nicholas’ mind was so absorbed in thoughts of his wife that he had to glance up to see why his horse had suddenly stopped. Directly in front of Garrett were two men, both with guns leveled at his head.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Garrett called out.

“Ain’t none of your affair, Mister,” a man dressed completely in black called out.

“Well, then, just whose affair is it?” Garrett asked, the irritation evident in his voice.

The other man, a short, squatty character, spit out a stream of tobacco juice and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Well, Nick, it’s been awhile, but I guess fate just throwed us together again. You ain’t looking too bad for a man about to die.”

Nicholas’s eyes narrowed, and the scowl on his face was enough to make the man rethink his words. Garrett glanced back at his son-in-law and wondered about the connection between him and the men.

“Jeb, for a man who just spent the last years of his life in prison, I wouldn’t think you’d want to throw yourself right back into a cell again,” Nicholas replied, never taking his eyes from the man.

The man in black cursed Nicholas’s smugness, but Jeb was the one who addressed the issue. “I don’t care if I do get throwed back in. It’ll be worth it just to say I had the honor of stringin’ up your miserable hide.”

“So you intend to hang me? I figured that’d be too much work. Why not just put a bullet in me here and now and be done with it?” Nicholas took a gamble with his words, knowing that Jeb answered to his older brother, the ringleader of the gang, Aaron Chancellor. With Aaron nowhere in sight, Nicholas hoped he could buy himself some time.

Jeb spit again before answering. His voice was full of anger and frustration. “I ain’t going to do nothin’ with you just yet. But when the time comes, I intend to see you suffer good and long.”

“Still taking your orders from Aaron, eh?” Both outlaws scowled at the reference, but neither one said a word.

Garrett finally broke the silence and drew the attention of the men. “I demand to know what’s going on and why you’re even on my land.” The men exchanged glances, and Nicholas knew immediately that they were up to no good.

“You own this here land?” Jeb questioned.

“I do,” Garrett stated without hesitation.

Nicholas hoped to intercede and take Jeb’s mind off of whatever he was plotting. “This man is nothing to you. Your war is with me.”

“You’ve got that right, but I’ll just bet there’s some money to be made. This here landowner might be our ticket to Mexico.”

“You can head on over to Mexico any time you want. It’s not that far,” Nicholas replied dryly.

“Shut up, Dawson,” Jeb demanded. “Gus, what say we take the both of ’em and give Aaron a call. He can make the decision then as to what we do next.”

“Doesn’t he always?” Nicholas said, hoping to goad either one of them into immediate action.

“Tie ’em up, Gus,” Jeb said, keeping his pistol leveled at the middle of Garrett’s chest. With a smirk he added, “And gag Dawson if he so much as utters another word.”

❧

Daughtry had worked up quite a sweat on her hike back to Piñon Canyon. She knew she was still a couple of miles away when she heard the unmistakable sound of voices. Hoping that Nicholas or even her father and brothers had come searching for her, Daughtry climbed up on a rocky ledge to get a better look.

Easing into position, Daughtry gasped and flattened herself against the ground when she saw the men who threatened to shoot her husband and father. Immediately, her mind went back to the day when Nicholas had faced three outlaws alone. Were these men part of the Chancellor gang?

She struggled to make out what was being said but could only hear pieces of words. Try as she might, she was simply too far away to make any sense out of them. She lifted her head just enough to watch the scene below her. A man dressed in black handed his pistol to his partner, dismounted his horse, and took a length of rope from the horn of his saddle.

Helpless, Daughtry watched as the man first tied up Nicholas, then her father. In a matter of minutes the entire matter was completed, and the man remounted, claiming his gun and turning it once again on her husband.

“I have to get help,” Daughtry whispered to herself. She watched as the men led Nicholas and her father off in the opposite direction from the ranch. Perhaps she could get back and tell her brothers before the men got too far.

Slipping noiselessly from her perch, Daughtry began to run as fast as she could move. She was panting heavily, unused to the activity, before she’d even crossed half the distance to home. She sucked in lungfuls of cold air, praying for strength to continue, and just when she felt her legs giving out, she caught sight of the corral fences and the orange adobe ranch house.

Dear God, she prayed, please don’t let them hurt Nicholas or Daddy. The prayer continued, the same words, the same plea, over and over until Daughtry collapsed against the corral in order to catch her breath.

Gavin walked out of the barn in time to see his sister fall against the fence. Without hesitation, he ran as fast as his legs would carry him and scooped Daughtry into his arms.

“Are you all right?” he asked fearfully.

“No,” Daughtry gasped, still breathless. “I. . .I have to. . .”

“Just be quiet,” Gavin said, carrying her to the house. “You can tell me later.”

“No,” Daughtry said, putting her hand to Gavin’s shoulder. “They have Nicholas and Daddy.”

Gavin stopped dead and looked down at his sister. “Who has Nicholas and Dad?”

“I don’t know, I think they might be part of the old Chancellor gang.” Daughtry clutched her brother’s neck tightly, the fear evident in her eyes.

“Why would you imagine such a thing?”

“Nicholas used to be a lawman. He was primarily responsible for putting the gang away.” Daughtry drew a deeper breath. “You can put me down, Gavin. I’m okay.”

Gavin shook his head. “No, we’d best get on in the house and let everybody hear the rest of this.” He started walking again and spied Mack, his father’s longtime ranch foreman. “Mack, something’s happened, you’d best join us in the house.” The dark-headed man nodded and followed Gavin inside.

“Mom!” Gavin yelled loudly. He put Daughtry down on a chair and yelled again, this time even louder.

“What is it?” Maggie questioned, coming into the living room. “I’m not deaf, you know.”

“We’ve got trouble,” Gavin explained. Maggie looked at Daughtry for a moment, noticing the redness of her face, as well as the dirt and disarray of her clothes.

“What trouble?” Maggie asked slowly and looked from Daughtry to Gavin and finally to Mack.

Just then, as if sensing that something weren’t right, Daughtry’s other brothers bounded into the room.

“What’s going on?” Joey asked. The question was echoed by each of the others before Daughtry stood up to explain.

“Two men have taken Nicholas and Daddy. I went out riding this morning and a rockslide blocked my route home. I dismounted and Poco got away from me. I guess I took too long getting back, because Nicholas and Daddy came looking for me. I heard voices and came up over a rock just above where the canyon narrows. There were two men with guns, and they tied up Daddy and Nicholas and headed off in the opposite direction from the ranch.”

“Who were they?” asked Dolan.

“Daughtry thinks they’re part of the Chancellor gang,” Gavin piped up. “Seems Nicholas used to be some kind of lawman, and they bear him a grudge.”

“Daughtry, are you sure?” Maggie asked, trembling.

“I can’t be positive. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but something happened awhile back, when Nicholas and I were on our ranch. Nicholas told me then that there was a good chance more of the Chancellors would come gunning for him.”

“We’d better round up as many hands as we can,” Gavin said to Mack. “Make sure everybody is armed and has what they need in the way of ammunition. Jordy, go get the guns from the cabinet in Dad’s office. Don, Dolan, go saddle our horses and Joseph, get provisions for all of us. We don’t know how long it’s going to take or how far we’ll have to ride.” Without a word of protest, the brothers flew into action with Mack fast on their heels.

“I’m going too!” Daughtry exclaimed.

“Oh no, you’re not,” Gavin said, and the way he looked at her was so much like his father that Maggie had to laugh.

“But I can’t just sit here,” Daughtry protested. “I want to go.”

Maggie came and put an arm around her daughter. “You’re expecting a child, Daughtry. You have to think of more than just what you want.”

“I suppose you’re right,” Daughtry replied sadly. The defeat in her voice caused Gavin to give her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

“We’ll get them back,” he said, looking into both Daughtry and Maggie’s eyes. “I promise you, we’ll bring them back safe.”

The women watched as their men mounted up and headed out. Daughtry felt hot tears slide down her cheeks. Would she ever get a chance to tell Nicholas that she was sorry and that she understood why he’d married her the way he had?

❧

Jeb Chancellor led the way to the range shack, while Gus brought up the rear with Nicholas and Garrett sandwiched in between. Garrett immediately recognized the place as one they used only on occasion. It was well secluded and far enough away from the rest of civilization that no one would have any idea they were even there.

“This place belong to you too?” Jeb asked Garrett.

“Yeah.”

“How much land you own, anyway?”

“Enough.” Garrett was quickly realizing their game. “If it’s money you’re after, why don’t you just name your price?”

“Just like that?” Jeb laughed. “What then? You gonna ride back to the house and write out a draft?”

“Is that what you want?”

“I don’t know what I want yet,” Jeb replied.

“Of course you don’t,” Nicholas sneered, “you haven’t talked to Aaron yet. Big brother has to tell him what to think.”

“I’m warning you, Dawson,” Jeb said in a menacing tone. “Keep your mouth shut and you just might live to see tomorrow.”

“He’d better live to see a whole lot more than tomorrow if you want any of my money,” Garrett declared.

“What’s he to you?” Jeb asked, halting his horse in front of the shack.

“He’s family.” Garrett’s eyes met Nicholas’s for a brief moment.

“Well, family or no, whether he lives or dies is up to Aaron. There ain’t no amount of money what can buy back a man’s years wasted behind bars.” Jeb dismounted and slapped his reins around the hitching post. “Get ’em down, Gus, and bring ’em inside.”

In spite of the way their hands were tied, both Garrett and Nicholas swung their legs over the necks of their mounts and jumped down unassisted. Gus poked Nicholas forward with the barrel of his gun pressed firmly in the small of Nicholas’s back. In turn, Jeb motioned Garrett inside.

“Tie them to the chairs.” Jeb took a defensive position with the gun leveled directly at Garrett, while Gus did as he was told. Once Nicholas and Garrett were securely tied, Jeb motioned Gus outside for a talk.

“Can you work the ropes loose?” Nicholas asked Garrett. Although they sat nearly side by side, Nicholas had to strain to get a look at the way Gus had tied Garrett’s ropes.

“I don’t know,” Garrett whispered back. He strained against the hemp, feeling it chafe and bite at his wrists.

“I think, with any luck at all, I can work through mine,” Nicholas replied.

“I think we’d best count on more than luck.”

Nicholas grinned. “You do have a point there. I’ve been praying since we left to look for Daughtry.” The smile quickly faded from his face. “Daughtry! I’d nearly forgotten.” The agitation he felt was quickly mirrored in Garrett’s eyes.

“It’s in God’s hands,” Garrett replied. “I guess it always has been, except for the times I yank it back out.” He smiled weakly at his son-in-law.

“I know what you mean. I guess I’ve pretty much messed up my share of living. I can’t say that I’ve always done things to make my folks proud of me, nor can I stand on the memory of always trusting God to see me through.” Nick paused for a minute, wondering if he should continue.

“Who are these men to you?” Garrett finally asked.

“Part of the Chancellor gang. I hung out with some of them before I became a lawman. They figured I’d overlook their shenanigans, for old times sake, I suppose.”

“But you didn’t?”

“No,” Nicholas replied. “I couldn’t. Like I told Daughtry, I grew up in a Christian home, and even though I felt the urge to spread my wings and buck up against the wind, I never broke the law. Bad thing was, I constantly kept company with those who did. Finally, a friend took me in hand and I became involved with working for the law instead of against it.”

“Were you the one to put them away? Is that why they want to kill you?”

Nicholas took a deep breath and looked his father-in-law in the eye. “Yes. They tried once before back at my ranch. Daughtry unfortunately witnessed the whole thing. I hope you’ll forgive me for bringing this on you and your family. I figured when you offered us a home for the winter that they’d lose track of me and give up the search. I guess they won’t quit until they’re all back in prison or dead.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Garrett replied with genuine affection. “You’ve proven yourself to me more than once. I happen to think Daughtry made a good choice for a husband.”

Nicholas’s smile didn’t reach the look of worry in his eyes. “If I only knew that she was safe.”

“God’s watching over her, Nick. We have to count on that. I guess I’m just now starting to see things more clearly. When Julie died, I figured I’d failed somewhere along the way. Now, I know better and my heart is cleared of the guilt. God’s timing isn’t always something we mortals can understand.”

“I admire your faith, Garrett,” Nicholas said honestly. “I hope some of it rubs off.”

Garrett grinned. “I have a feeling your faith is greater than you know. Now, how are we going to get out of this mess?”

Chapter 18

After several hours, Daughtry had had her fill of waiting. As soon as she saw that her mother was amply occupied in the kitchen, Daughtry pled a headache and went to her room.

At first she didn’t know what she’d do. All she really knew was that somehow, some way, she had to help. Without another thought, Daughtry began to discard her dirty riding outfit. Standing in nothing more than her heavy knit chemise and black wool stockings, she glanced into the mirror and smiled as a plan formed in her mind.

Racing to her clothes chest, Daughtry pulled out the bottom drawer and retrieved her brother’s hand-me-down jeans. Disguised in boys’ clothes, Daughtry figured she could ride into town and notify the sheriff, as well as the two Monroe families. This would get even more men looking for her father and husband and still wouldn’t go against Gavin’s instructions that she not join them in the actual search.

Rebraiding her hair, Daughtry coiled it around her head, then pulled on a dark brown hat and surveyed her appearance in the mirror. Noting the curvy appearance of her body in the jeans, Daughtry went to the wardrobe and pulled out one of Nicholas’s duster coats.

The coat fell to just above her boot tops, but Daughtry knew it would be better than letting either her father or Nicholas catch her in town wearing boys’ pants. With an apprehensive glance down the hall, Daughtry made her way to the front door.

Walking with determined strides across the corral yard, Daughtry took a rope and singled Nutmeg out of the few remaining mounts. Within a short time, she had the mare saddled and ready, grateful that no one had come to interfere with her plan.

Daughtry covered the distance into Bandelero in half the normal time. She knew she’d pushed Nutmeg to the limits, and as soon as the town was in sight, Daughtry slowed the mare to a trot. Nutmeg pranced nervously and whinnied softly at the sights and sounds. Daughtry was amazed at the way the small town was continuing to grow. What had started out as a handful of shops and services was now a bustling town, well on its way to becoming a city.

The sheriff’s office was at the far end, and Daughtry knew she’d have to ride right through the heart of Bandelero before reaching her destination. Pulling her hat low, Daughtry urged Nutmeg forward, refusing to make eye contact with anyone on the boardwalks.

To Daughtry’s utter frustration, the sheriff’s office was closed without a single soul to explain his whereabouts. She heaved a sigh and made her way back to Nutmeg, just as a voice called out behind her.

“Sheriff’s gone just now, but can I help you?”

Daughtry turned slowly to find Mr. Tate, owner of the hardware store. “I don’t suppose you know where he’s gone?”

“Daughtry Lucas! Is that you under that getup?” The man’s shocked expression almost made her laugh.

“Yes, it’s me, but the name is Dawson now. Do you know where the sheriff is?”

“Sure,” Tate replied. “He’s gone off looking for your father and some other guy.”

“That would be my husband, Nicholas,” Daughtry replied. She was relieved to know that the sheriff was already assisting in the search.

“Didn’t know you got yourself married,” the man said, scratching his chin. “Always figured you’d marry one of the local boys.”

Daughtry couldn’t be bothered with what Mr. Tate thought. Her real concern was what was happening to her husband and father. “If you’ll excuse me,” she said remounting Nutmeg, “I have things to do.” Mr. Tate said nothing as he watched Daughtry settle into the saddle. “Good day, Mr. Tate.” Daughtry urged Nutmeg back through town, wondering what she should do first.

Just as Daughtry had convinced herself that contacting Lillie and Dr. Dan would be the best choice, she pulled Nutmeg up short and gasped. The two men who’d taken her father and Nicholas were riding into town as though they were coming to Sunday meeting.

Without taking her eyes off of the two, Daughtry eased Nutmeg into a slow but steady walk. She had no idea what she was going to do, or how she could manage to capture the men, but Daughtry knew she had to do something.

When the men headed in the direction of the train depot, Daughtry felt herself grow frantic. What if they’d already killed not only Nicholas but her father as well? What if they perceived their job as finished and now they were taking the train back to—wherever?

When the men dismounted and tied their horses to the hitching post in front of the depot, Daughtry began to panic. What do I do, Lord? She found her heart racing and, in spite of the cold wind, Daughtry felt sweat on her brow.

The men entered the building, and Daughtry quickly dismounted and tied Nutmeg several spaces away from their mounts. Glancing up at the double glass doors of the depot, she could see that the men were deep in conversation with the ticket agent. Without giving it another thought, Daughtry made her way to their horses.

“If they aren’t going to leave by train,” she mused in a whisper to herself, “they’ll come back for their mounts. Either way, they’ll be in for a surprise.” She quickly slid her hand along the first horse and reaching under his belly, Daughtry loosened the cinch strap. Repeating this action with the other horse, she felt a bit of confidence in her mission. Somehow, she needed to find out what they were doing inside the depot, then she needed to get help.

Daughtry made her way around the building, peering in through the windows to catch sight of the two men. They seemed to be there to use the telephone, and the agent was somewhat disturbed by their request.

Daughtry watched intently, while one man pushed a handful of money across the counter to the agent and waited for his response. Daughtry knew the phone was on the track side of the building and that the agent’s bay window was where she’d have her best chance of spying on the two men.

Slipping across the back, barely managing to avoid a man hoisting a heavy crate to the loading platform, Daughtry eased her way cautiously to the bay window. The window was positioned so that the agent could look up and down the track for some distance and Daughtry knew she’d have to keep to the wall beside it in order to avoid being seen. Thankfully, she noted that the two men kept their backs to her when they entered the room and that the telephone was opposite the side she’d chosen to be.

Daughtry felt herself trembling as she strained to hear what the two men were saying. Just then, the heavy blast from the four o’clock westbound blotted out all hope of hearing what the men were saying.

Glancing down the tracks, Daughtry watched as the train eased into the station, blowing off steam noisily. She felt more frustration than she’d ever known possible as she glanced back into the agent’s office and found that the men were still on the phone.

“I have to find out what they’re up to,” she whispered.

People began to leave the train, while others crowded around her to take their place on board. Daughtry felt herself being pushed back through the comings and goings, until she lost her footing and fell forward.

With a shriek of fright, Daughtry found herself caught by strong hands and set back on her feet.

“Whoa, Son,” a deep baritone voice called out.

Daughtry glanced upward and gasped, while the man staring down at her did the same.

“Sorry, Ma’am,” the man corrected his mistake, “I guess I mistook you in that garb.”

Daughtry still couldn’t speak. The man before her was the spitting image of her husband, only his hair was gray and his face betrayed his age. How could it be?

“I–I’m,” she stammered. “It was my fault. I apologize.”

The man smiled broadly, then reached out to take hold of the stately woman beside him. “No harm done,” he said softly.

Daughtry stared in amazement at the couple. She looked at the woman for a moment, then back at the man.

“Is something wrong, Miss?” the man asked her, a look of concern replacing his smile.

Daughtry glanced back at the ticket agent’s office and saw that the men were still there. Without hesitation she pushed back her hat and looked into the dark eyes of the stranger. “Do I know you?” she asked boldly.

“I doubt it,” the man replied, and the woman at his side smiled.

“We’re here to surprise our son,” the woman said.

“Your son?” Daughtry barely squeaked out the words.

“That’s right, perhaps you know where we could find him. His name is Nicholas Dawson. We received a letter from him saying that he’s staying with his wife’s family. I believe their name is Lucas,” the man replied, then shook his head. “Forgive my rudeness, I’m Riley Dawson, and this is my wife Alexandra.”

Daughtry stared up in dumbfounded silence at her father and mother-in-law. “Oh my,” she finally managed to whisper.

“Are you all right?” Riley asked, seeing Daughtry pale at the news.

“I’m afraid so,” she whispered, feeling faint. “I have a bit of a surprise for you,” she said with a slight smile. “I’m Daughtry Dawson, Nicholas’s wife.”

Riley’s mouth dropped open, while Alexandra’s eyes widened and twinkled with amusement.

“You are Nicholas’s wife?” Riley questioned.

Daughtry shifted her weight nervously and glanced back at the agent’s office. “Yes, and the fact of the matter is, Nicholas and my father are in trouble, and I need your help.”

Alexandra instantly sobered and reached out to Daughtry. “What is it? What’s happened to them?”

Daughtry quickly explained to her in-laws why she was dressed as she was and how the two men inside the depot were responsible for their son’s abduction.

“I need your help, Mr. Dawson,” Daughtry said in such a way that Riley couldn’t help but put his arm around her.

“Call me Riley,” he said softly. “Look, I’ll take care of this.” He looked past Daughtry to his wife. “You take Zandy and go back to the ranch.”

“Zandy?” Daughtry questioned.

“That’s what most folks call me,” Alexandra stated, trying to keep her voice calm.

“Oh,” Daughtry replied with a nod. Then turning back to Riley she shook her head. “I’m not going back. I have to help Nicholas.”

“Look, I know you want to help him, but we have no idea what we’re going to run into,” Riley said firmly.

“I know that half the county is out there looking for them. I can’t just sit back and do nothing. Look, those two are leaving. Either help me capture them or stay out of my way.” Daughtry’s determination caused Zandy to laugh out loud, while Riley rolled his eyes.

“I see our son married a woman just like his mother. Stubborn to the bone and just as beautiful.” Daughtry blushed at the half-compliment but turned to leave.

“Oh, no you don’t,” Riley said, taking hold of her arm. “You’ve got yourself a partner.”

Daughtry turned and smiled. “Good. I loosened their cinch straps,” she said with a grin. “They ought to just about fall into our arms.”

Riley shook his head while, Zandy tried to refrain from laughing.

“They have guns,” Daughtry said, while leading Riley and Zandy around the building. “But I figure when they fall off those horses, we might be able to get the upper hand, maybe even get their weapons away from them.”

“You leave that to me,” Riley said in a voice that made it clear to Daughtry he meant business. She nodded and halted when they reached the front of the depot. The men were still nowhere in sight.

“Alexandra,” Riley said, turning to his wife, “you secure our bags and stay out of sight. I’ll be hard pressed enough to keep her out of danger’s way.” He motioned to Daughtry who didn’t like one bit that she’d gained yet another guardian.

Knowing the outlaws wouldn’t recognize her or Riley, Daughtry motioned her father-in-law to follow her as the two men came bounding out of the depot. Without any time to lose, Daughtry and Riley flew into action as the men attempted to mount their horses. When the saddles twisted to the side and dumped the surprised men on the frozen ground, Riley quickly grabbed the revolver of the one dressed in black, while Daughtry put her booted foot firmly on the arm of the shorter, squatty man.

“Get up real slow,” Riley instructed the men after he had Daughtry remove the other man’s weapon. “Where’s the jail, Daughtry?”

“Other end of town,” she answered, feeling hope for the first time. “Come on, I’ll lead the way.”

Riley motioned the men forward, while Daughtry apprehensively moved out. The men weren’t over their shock as they took hesitant steps forward, but the gun in Riley’s hand left them little doubt that he meant business.

A crowd started to gather and follow Daughtry and Riley as they made their way to the sheriff’s office. The mumblings and whispers were enough to unnerve Daughtry, but she took a deep breath and forced herself forward. When this is all done, she thought, I may very well faint!

Mr. Tate was there to greet them, and when Daughtry explained the need to put the two men into a cell, he rapidly produced a set of keys and led Daughtry and Riley into the jail.

Once they had the men behind bars, Daughtry sat down hard on a chair in the outer office, while her father-in-law began to question the men.

“You have my son and his father-in-law,” Riley said with a menacing stare at the outlaws. He’d dealt with their kind plenty before, even if it were a lifetime before.

“What if we do?” the short man questioned.

“Well, the way I figure it, you can cooperate and tell me where they are, or I can start shooting parts of your body until you give me the information.” Riley prayed his bluff would work.

The man stared at Riley as if trying to decide if he were serious or not. Daughtry held her breath, hoping and praying that Riley wouldn’t have to shoot anyone.

“You wouldn’t really shoot us,” the man in black stated nervously. “Would you?”

Riley fired the revolver into the mattress just to the man’s left. He glanced down at the gun as if carefully considering its benefits. “I’ll do whatever it takes,” Riley answered in a cool, unemotional tone.

Minutes later, Daughtry and Riley emerged from the jail to find the small crowd still lingering to learn what they could. Daughtry refused to listen to Riley’s suggestion that he get another man to go with him.

“I know our land better than anyone here in town,” she protested with hands on her hips. “And, unless you plan to lock me in a cell with those two, I’m going to find my husband and father.”

Riley ran his hand back through his gray hair and stared at Daughtry.

“Remind you of someone?” Zandy questioned, coming up behind her husband.

“Frightfully so,” Riley replied with a look at his wife that told her he really didn’t mind the comparison. “Poor Nick.” Zandy giggled at her husband’s mock horror.

“Well?” Daughtry questioned. “Are you coming with me?”

“Of course I am,” Riley responded. “Nicholas will have my hide over this and rightfully so, but I’m getting too old to fight the feminine wiles. Could you manage to stop long enough to arrange for Zandy to be taken to your folks’ place first?”

“Certainly,” Daughtry said with a smile. “My Aunt Lillie—well she’s really not my aunt, but she and my mother are like sisters. Anyway, she lives in that house right over there. She’s married to the town doctor, so there’s always someone there. Just tell her who you are and what you need. She’ll see to it that you get there.”

Zandy smiled and nodded. Daughtry moved to retrieve Nutmeg’s reins and motioned to Riley.

“You’d better saddle up one of their horses, Riley.”

Riley gave Zandy a quick kiss, then did just as his daughter-in-law instructed. “Nicholas certainly has his work cut out for him,” he muttered under his breath, and Zandy’s laughter caused Daughtry to wonder at the murmured words.

Chapter 19

Less than a half-hour after Gus and Jeb had ridden out for town, Nicholas had managed to free himself from the ropes. Crashing the ancient chair’s rickety frame against the wall until it fell into pieces, Nicholas had managed to work his arms and shoulders loose.

“If you back up here,” Garrett suggested, “I can probably pull those knots free with my teeth.”

Nicholas nodded and pushed his hands, still bound behind his back, up to meet his father-in-law’s mouth. Garrett worked at the ropes for only a moment before managing to pull the first knot apart. After that it was only a matter of teamwork and they had themselves free.

Rubbing his wrists and the spot in his shoulder that ached from the only sign of age he’d allowed himself—rheumatism—Garrett smiled at his son-in-law. “I guess we’ll be quite a surprise for old Gus and Jeb.”

“More than they can imagine,” Nicholas said, returning the grin. “The way I see it, we’d be wise to lay a trap. There’s no way of knowing if they’ll come back alone, and I intend to round up every one of those good-for-nothings so I can get on with my life. I can’t go on having to look over my shoulder every time a twig snaps, and I’ll certainly not subject my wife and kids to it.” Looking intently at Garrett for a moment, Nicholas grew sober.

“I’m really sorry for the danger this has placed you and your family in,” he began. “I have to admit that one of the reasons I agreed to winter with you here was because I was worried something like this would happen at our place. I figured, and selfishly so, that they’d come around and find our place deserted, with no forwarding address or knowledge of where we’d gotten off to, and they’d give up and go home. I don’t want to be responsible for killing any of them, but I won’t let them kill my family.”

Garrett reached out and put his hand on Nicholas’s shoulder. “You did what you had to do. I would have done the same thing, and there’s nothing to be ashamed of in thinking of Daughtry first.” He grinned, breaking the tension between them. “I put her mother first, often to my detriment and, sometimes, my distraction.”

Nicholas laughed. “Yes, Daughtry can be a real distraction too.”

“Don’t I know it,” Garrett said, joining his laughter.

“What are we going to do about this?” Nicholas said, sobering once again.

“We’ll have to take them when they come back. We can watch and see if more than just the two of them come back and judge the situation accordingly. The way I figure it, it’s going to be about dark before they can make it back from Bandelero. We can use that to our benefit by leaving the place dark.”

“Makes sense,” Nicholas replied, sizing up the range shack. It was a single room, with little more than fireplace, table, and chair. The other chair, now good for little more than kindling, lay in a heap beside a small metal cabinet. “What’s in there?” Nicholas questioned.

“A bit of food, some bandages, that sort of thing. No weapons, except maybe a knife.” Garrett strode over to the cabinet and opened it. “Looks like Gus and Jeb cleaned it out. There’s bandages and some liniment. Nothing else.”

Nicholas nodded and continued to stare out the window. His mind immediately drifted where he didn’t want to dwell. Daughtry was somewhere out there. Maybe she was alone and hurt or maybe she’d made it back safely to the ranch. Either way, not knowing was killing Nicholas.

“You love her a great deal, don’t you, Son?”

Nicholas didn’t even smile at the reference. “I do,” he whispered. “More than I ever hoped I could love another person.”

Garrett came up beside him and put his arm around Nicholas’s shoulder. “Let’s pray.” With a nod, Nicholas felt hope return.

❧

“We’re about out of light, Daughtry,” Riley called from his mount.

“I know, but we’re nearly there,” she replied in a breathless manner. “We’ll just have to push them a little harder.”

The horses, already more than a little weary from their continuous journeys, were sweat-soaked and starting to lather. Daughtry had never abused a mount in her life, but then, she’d never felt the urgency to save another person’s life. Nicholas and her father might lie bleeding or half-dead, for all she knew. They just had to get to the ranch shack and see that they were all right. After that, she’d give Nutmeg a well-deserved rest, but not until then.

Daughtry felt a wave of nausea run through her, causing her to slow their pace a bit. She prayed silently that the feeling would pass, and when it didn’t, Daughtry surprised Riley by pulling up quickly.

“Here!” she exclaimed, tossing her reins to Riley. She barely took four steps before losing the contents of her stomach.

Considerably more pale and slightly weak, Daughtry returned to her horse, ignoring Riley’s shocked expression. She rinsed her mouth out, then took a deep drink from the canteen before remounting.

Meeting Riley’s eyes, she nodded. “We’re going to have a baby.”

Riley’s expression changed from shock to extreme concern. “You can’t be out here doing this.”

Daughtry shrugged. “That’s what my brother said and no doubt what my father and husband will say. I can probably expect my father to suggest a spanking again—that seems to be his answer for wayward children.”

“And rightfully so,” Riley murmured, refusing to give in to Daughtry’s dry amusement. “You could harm yourself.”

Daughtry laughed. “I’m a little more concerned about what Nicholas will do when he sees me out here.” Urging her horse forward, she grinned over her shoulder. “But I guess it’s a little late to start worrying now.”

Riley sat for a moment, still stunned by the news. Nudging the horse in the ribs, Riley caught up with Daughtry and spoke. “You amaze me,” he said to her.

Daughtry was surprised to hear those words instead of a rebuke. She glanced up, still shaky from her bout of nausea. “Sometimes,” she replied, “I amaze myself. I figure God has His hand most firmly on my shoulder, though. I don’t doubt for a minute that He led me to town in order to find those two at just the right time. I was the only one who knew what they looked like.” She paused, looking skyward. “God keeps pretty busy with me, but then I try to return the favor and keep myself pretty busy with Him.”

Riley smiled. “Remind me sometime to tell you about how busy He had to keep with me.”

Daughtry looked at Riley and nodded. “It’s a deal.”

❧

The mountain peaks greedily sucked out the last bits of light, just as the range shack came into view. Daughtry and Riley did nothing to disguise their approach. They were hopeful that the noise they made would be welcomed by living, breathing souls.

Daughtry refused to listen to Riley’s pleas that she let him enter the shack first. She raced across the ground without even securing Nutmeg to the hitching post. Riley did likewise and was on her heels.

Daughtry burst through the door into the darkness. She opened her mouth to call out to Riley, but someone knocked her down onto the hard wooden floor. While the beast managed to sit itself square on her backside, the cracking thud of a fist to a face left Daughtry little doubt that Riley had been properly subdued.

“Light a lamp,” Nicholas called to Garrett who was now nursing his sore knuckles. Daughtry was so stunned she couldn’t speak. She began to struggle furiously, which only made Nicholas twist around to clamp a hand to the middle of her back.

“Get off of me, you oaf!” she managed to gasp as her father struck a match to the kerosene lamp he held.

Nicholas’s and Garrett’s jaws dropped open with the stunned revelation that they’d managed to capture their rescue team. Without thinking to move, Nicholas stared at the crumpled body of his father, now stirring in the doorway. Daughtry started kicking her legs, but the duster wrapped around them sufficiently and saved Nicholas from any blows.

“Well, I’ll be,” Garrett finally said and motioned to where Riley was struggling to sit up. “You know him?”

Nicholas moaned, but still didn’t move. “Yeah, he’s my father.”

“Figures,” Garrett said, rolling his eyes upward.

“Nicholas! You’re smashing me into the floor!” Daughtry exclaimed.

Finally realizing what he was doing, Nicholas shifted his weight and rolled to the side of his wife. Daughtry just lay there for a moment, trying to take in enough air to fill her lungs.

“I’d say while you have her down there like that—” Garrett began.

“Don’t you dare!” Daughtry interrupted indignantly. “Don’t you dare suggest he spank me. I’m not a child! If you two had bothered to look at who was coming. . .”

Nicholas interrupted as he took Daughtry into his arms and pulled her across his lap. “We did look. We saw that sorrel mare that Gus had ridden out of here and we saw two scraggly looking characters.” Nicholas looked Daughtry over from head to foot, then glanced up at his father. “You gonna live, Dad?”

Riley rubbed his sore jaw. “Your father-in-law packs quite a punch.”

“Don’t I know it!” Nicholas exclaimed, and Garrett turned sheepishly to shrug. “How’d you get involved in all of this?”

Riley tried to smile, but his swollen lip wouldn’t allow for it. “Your mother and I came to town to surprise you for Christmas. We ran into Daughtry at the train station where she’d pinned down your captors.”

Nicholas turned to see Daughtry looking at him rather smugly. “You went into town wearing boys’ pants? After I told you I didn’t want to see you doing that?”

Daughtry groaned in exasperation and tried to free herself from Nicholas’s grasp. He tightened his hold on her, leaving little doubt that the matter was far from settled.

“I saw the men take you and Daddy,” Daughtry explained. “I ran back home and got Gavin and the boys. They’re out there somewhere, even now, looking for you two. I couldn’t just sit at home, and Gavin told me I couldn’t go with them.”

Garrett looked at Riley with a look that only fathers could share. “She’s never been one to follow instruction.”

“Well, she’s going to learn real quicklike,” Nicholas interjected. “Daughtry, you could have been killed. I could have busted you in the jaw like Garrett did Dad. Then what?”

Daughtry opened her mouth to speak, looking first at her husband, then her father, and finally Riley. Finding not even a shred of support, Daughtry crossed her hands against her chest and pouted. “I can’t believe you aren’t even grateful for the rescue.”

Nicholas gently held her under one arm and got to his feet, pulling Daughtry up with him as if she weighed nothing. “I am grateful,” he said softly, “but I’d be a whole lot more grateful if you were safely tucked away back at the ranch.”

He looked at his father, shaking his head. “I don’t suppose she told you that she’s expecting?”

Riley chuckled. “She did. Right after she lost her lunch and we were nearly here. Reminds me of your mother,” he added with such joy that Daughtry couldn’t help but smile appreciatively.

“I will take that as a compliment,” Daughtry replied. “Your wife is a wonderful woman. I imagine she would have come with us if I’d given her time to change.”

At this Nicholas and Riley both laughed, and Garrett shook his head. “Sounds like Maggie. I’m sure if we don’t make our way home soon, she’ll be leading the searchers for us.”

“Those horses are pretty spent,” Riley said. “In fact, I think I’d better make sure they didn’t wander off too far. In our hurry,” he paused with a wink at Daughtry, “we left them to fend for themselves.”

“I’ll give you a hand,” Garrett said, coming forward. “I hope you’ll forgive the greeting.”

Riley patted him on the back. “Forgiven. From now on, we’ll fight on the same side.”

“Agreed,” Garrett chuckled.

When their fathers had gone outside, Nicholas pulled Daughtry to him so tightly she could scarcely breathe. “I was so afraid you were hurt,” Nicholas breathed against her ear. “Thank God you’re all right.”

“I echo those sentiments myself,” Daughtry whispered, lifting her face. “I couldn’t just sit at home, Nick. I love you and I had to help. I couldn’t have lived with myself if I’d done nothing and lost you.”

Nicholas tenderly stroked Daughtry’s dirt-smudged cheek. “I love you, Daughtry. My life wouldn’t mean much without you in it.” He lowered his lips slowly to hers, kissing her long and gently as though gaining reassurance from the action.

Pulling away, Daughtry sighed and leaned her head against her husband’s chest. “I like your dad,” she finally said. “He’s just like you.”

Nicholas chuckled softly. “I wouldn’t have thought that a compliment a few months back.”

“And now?”

“Now, I’m pleased you think it so. He’s a good man, and I’m proud to be his son,” Nicholas admitted.

“You’ll work everything out between you?” Daughtry questioned. “I mean the demands he put on you and such. You won’t hold a grudge or be angry with him? After all,” Daughtry said looking into Nicholas’s dark eyes, “it brought us together.”

“No, I’m not angry with him,” Nicholas smiled. “Grateful, but not angry.”

Daughtry nodded and smiled. “And you aren’t angry with me? I mean, I made a pretty big mess of things back at the house. I’m sorry for that too. I was riding back to apologize when I lost Poco. I just want you to know that it doesn’t matter that you didn’t love me when you married me. All that matters is that you love me now and that you’ll always love me.”

Nicholas kissed Daughtry lightly on the mouth. “I’ll always love you, but I may have to tie you to a chair in order for you to bring our child into the world healthy and safe.”

Daughtry laughed. “I promise from now on, I’ll be good as can be.”

“Uh-huh. Sure,” Nicholas mused in disbelief, “until the next time.”

Chapter 20

Christmas Eve at Piñon Canyon had been a night of precious celebration as far back as Daughtry Lucas Dawson could remember. The house was decorated festively in pine boughs, red ribbons, wreaths shimmering with gold braided ribbons, and a tree that commanded the center of attention in the living room.

Daughtry lovingly touched the ornaments that hung on the tree. Delicate glass spheres, decorated with miniature paintings of the first Christmas, were among her favorites. They were nearly as old as she, and Daughtry remembered fondly, they were a gift from her father to her mother.

Laughter rang out in the dining room, where most of Bandelero, or so it seemed, had gathered to share in the festivities. When Daughtry’s mother had come to New Mexico, soon to be wed to Garrett Lucas, she’d left behind her dear friend Lillie in Topeka, Kansas. But Lillie had soon followed and married Dr. Daniel Monroe, brother to the young pastor, David, who had an even younger wife, Jenny. They were more like a family of closely knit brothers and sisters, and their offspring had grown up in a togetherness that seemed natural and secure.

Daughtry had never known a Christmas Eve when they’d not all joined together to celebrate the birth of their Savior. She could still hear the years of gaiety ringing through her memories. She could still feel the warmth that wrapped around her tightly and made her feel that despite what else might happen, in this home, by these people, she was loved.

This year was even more special, Daughtry thought. Nicholas’s family was with them. Added to this was the wondrous blessing that Daughtry was carrying her first child. She thought of Mary and how she must have felt as the birth of the Savior to the world approached. What an incredible feeling to know that she carried a life within her body. How much more must it have been for Mary, who carried the world’s King.

The boys, now men really, talked boisterously from the dining room, breaking Daughtry’s concentration. Anna Maria and Pepita had worked alongside Maggie and Daughtry to bake hundreds of tiny pastries and cookies for the party. Daughtry couldn’t help but smile at the thought of her five brothers, not to mention Dr. Dan and Lillie’s sons and Pastor David and Jenny’s son, Samuel, digging into the intricately woven display of confectionery delights. No doubt they’d give little thought to the arrangement, but Daughtry knew there would be hours of praise for the taste.

Compared to the seeming army of men in the house, Daughtry knew there were only a handful of women. Besides their mothers, Angeline Monroe, Dan and Lillie’s feisty daughter, and David and Jenny’s quiet little Hannah, now eighteen and twin to Samuel, would round out the party of second-generation New Mexicans. The biggest surprise of all and most pleasant for the young gentlemen of the family, was Nicholas’s dark-eyed sister, Joelle. She came by train only two days earlier and faced the wrath of both Riley and Nicholas at the announcement that she’d traveled alone.

It was of little matter, however, as all of Daughtry’s brothers, as well as Samuel, and Angeline’s brothers John and James, were quite taken with the beauty, leaving Angeline, who was normally the belle of the ball, with her nose slightly out of joint. No doubt Angeline would work through the competition and find herself the center of plenty of attention.

Daughtry stood alone in the living room and loved it all. She listened to the laughter, the voices, the happiness, and wrapped her hands around her still slender waist. Her child grew here, she thought and smiled. Two warm masculine hands fell over her own, and Daughtry leaned back into the arms of her husband.

“I wondered where you’d gotten off to,” Nicholas murmured against her ear. “How’s my baby?”

“He’s fine.”

“I meant you,” Nicholas whispered huskily.

“I was just dreaming,” Daughtry said with a smile.

“Are you sure you weren’t trying to figure out what I got you for Christmas?”

Daughtry turned in Nicholas’s arms and stared up innocently. “You aren’t really going to make me wait until tomorrow, are you?” She batted her lashes coyly and put on her most alluring smile.

Nicholas chuckled. “I do love you, Mrs. Dawson. So very much.”

“But you still won’t give me my present tonight?” Her voice was pleading like a child’s.

“Who can resist such charm and womanly wiles?”

Daughtry laughed and wrapped her arms around her husband’s neck. “I promise to make you the very best wife, Nicholas. I will work hard beside you and together we’ll build a ranch every bit as wonderful as Piñon Canyon.”

“I’ve no doubt of it. You seem to make good things happen wherever you go.”

“It isn’t me,” Daughtry replied with a knowing glance upward. “It’s Him. God has made all the most wondrous things happen, in spite of the motives we humans attached to them in the first place. He’s very good to look out for us that way.”

“Yes, He is,” Nicholas agreed.

With a tender kiss to Daughtry’s forehead, he set her away from him and reached into his pocket. “I was going to wait until tomorrow, but since you are intent on celebrating early. . .” He fell silent and pulled out a small box. “I’m told this belonged to my mother’s mother.” He opened the box to reveal an elegantly styled ring. The wide gold band was intricately etched with scrolling and leaves. Set in the very middle was a dark red stone.

“It’s a garnet,” Nicholas said as Daughtry stared in dumb silence at the ring. He pulled the ring from the box and slipped it on Daughtry’s still bare left hand. “I never even thought to send you a ring when I mailed you the proxy.” He grinned at her, delighted with Daughtry’s complete fascination. “Now you have one and no one will doubt that you belong to me.”

“Oh, Nicholas,” Daughtry replied, choking back tears, “it’s beautiful. It truly is.”

Nicholas nodded. “It’s only part of the gift, however.”

“Oh?”

“Yes,” he whispered. “I’ve already talked with Pastor David.”

“About what?” Daughtry asked curiously.

“I want us to marry again,” he answered, taking Daughtry’s hand to his lips. “Will you marry me in a proper church service, Mrs. Dawson? Marry me in front of all of our family and friends?”

Daughtry began to cry and, not finding the words to answer, she simply nodded her approval.

“Merry Christmas, Daughtry.”

Daughtry reached up with both hands and pulled Nicholas’s face down to meet hers. She kissed him earnestly on the mouth, her tears falling wet against his face. “Merry Christmas, Nicholas. I love you more with each passing day. I don’t see how it is possible to love you more than I already did, but I do. I am yours, now and forever. Forever yours, no matter what the future holds in store.”

Nicholas lifted her chin and glanced upward to the ceiling. “Forever His,” he whispered in reply, “because He knows exactly what the future holds in store.”

About the Author

Tracie Peterson, bestselling, award-winning author of over ninety fiction titles and three non-fiction books, lives and writes in Belgrade, Montana. As a Christian, wife, mother, writer, editor and speaker (in that order), Tracie finds her slate quite full.

Voted favorite author for 1995, 1996, and 1997 by the Heartsong Presents’ readership, and awarded Affaire de Coeur’s Inspirational Romance of the Year 1994, Romantic Times 2007 Career Achievement, American Christian Fiction Writers Lifetime Achievement 2011 and other awards, Tracie enjoys the pleasure of spinning stories for readers and thanks God for the imagination He’s given. She desires that the books would Entertain, Educate, and Encourage—Tracie’s three E’s.

Tracie was the managing editor of Heartsong Presents for Barbour Publishing for over three years and helped with acquisitions prior to that. She co-founded the American Christian Fiction Writer’s organization in 2000 and continues to work with new authors, teaching at a variety of conferences, giving workshops on inspirational romance, historical research, and anything else that offers assistance to fellow writers. She often speaks at women’s retreats and church functions. Her website is www.traciepeterson.com

Table of Contents

- Copyright
- Prologue
- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 3
- Chapter 4
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 6
- Chapter 7
- Chapter 8
- Chapter 9
- Chapter 10
- Chapter 11
- Chapter 12
- Chapter 13
- Chapter 14
- Chapter 15
- Chapter 16
- Chapter 17
- Chapter 18
- Chapter 19
- Chapter 20
- About the Author