A Walk in Heaven (34 page)

“That’s enough,” Laura snapped, yanking Careen’s arm and making her stumble back.

She released sobs as Mr. Jenkins grabbed her, but within seconds, Joshua plowed his fist in the other man’s face and grabbed her to him once more.

The mayor pushed his rifle into her side. “Joshua, step away from your sister-in-law or she dies.”

“Over my dead body,” Joshua growled.

“And over mine!”

Another voice joined the group as a man walked into the room from one of the smaller offices, holding a rifle. Behind him were two other men with guns. Careen sobbed with relief to see her father-in-law, Peter and Gage coming to their rescue.

The mayor kept his rifle pointed toward Careen. “Mr. Grayson, I suggest you call off your posse or I’ll kill her.”

“Mayor
Checketts
, I can guarantee that the bullet from my weapon and those of my sons will kill you before you even pull the trigger. Not only that, but the sheriff and five of his men are waiting outside the building to arrest you all. Needless to say, I think you are the one who needs to put your weapon down.”

Cursing, the mayor dropped his gun. Peter and Gage ran to hold the political figure from going anywhere. William moved his gun toward Laura. “And Miss
Checketts
, I suggest you stay right beside your father. You’re going down with the rest of them.”

“How did you find us?” the mayor snapped.

William grinned. “It was easier than you think. Because I’m a prominent man in Montana and have connections everywhere, I’d heard stories about Mr. Jenkins and how he sells girls to China. Although I’ve never met him, someone described him to me. When I saw you meet him at the hotel, I knew something was up. You were too far away from home to be conducting any kind of reputable business, Mayor.”

Mayor
Checketts
, his daughter, and Mr. Jenkins moved outside with the assistance of Joshua’s brothers. William followed closely behind.

Careen buried her face in Joshua’s chest and sobbed. Gratitude filled her knowing Joshua had been right. Indeed, the
Graysons
protected their own, just as they’d promised.

* * * *

Joshua kissed Careen long and hard before sending her off to bed. They’d been home a day now, and the stress of the past several weeks wore thin on everyone.

As most everyone retired bed, Joshua walked outside on the porch and took a deep breath. The night was calm, just as it should be. A few ranch hands littered the yard and by the stable, finishing their work after a long day. As Joshua turned to enter the house, he nearly collided with Betsy. She held a tray of steaming cups of hot chocolate.

“Pardon me, Betsy. I didn’t see you.”

“Oh, it was my fault, Mr. Grayson. I shouldn’t have been in such a hurry.”

“Where are you going with these?”

“I thought I’d take them to the men outside. The weather is a little nippy tonight, and these drinks will help keep them warm. The cook made plenty, and she sent me out here to share with everyone.” She smiled. “Would you like a cup?”

He grinned. “You’re very thoughtful, Betsy, but I’m fine. However, I’ll help you down the steps if you’d like.” He took the tray from her and carried it down the porch steps. It did his heart good to see Careen’s maid taking so well to the family and ranch hands. Since the cattle drive, Joshua had noticed how much closer she was with the hired help.

Joshua handed the tray to her and went back in the house. Straightway, he hurried toward his room, eager to sleep in a soft bed tonight. As he passed his daughter’s room, giggling came from inside. He peeked in the door and his girls sat together on one of the beds whispering. Chuckling, he stepped inside. They jumped and peered at him with wide eyes.

“What’s going on here?” he demanded with a sly grin.

“
Nothin
’ Pa.”
Jessica quickly ran to her bed and crawled under the covers.

“It doesn’t look like nothing to me. Why aren’t you two asleep?”

“We can’t sleep.” Frances said. “We’re too happy.”

He sat on her bed and caressed her ponytail that Careen had weaved earlier tonight. “Why are you so happy?”

“
B’cuz
you love Aunt Careen,” Jessica said, jumping out of bed and rushing to his side.

He lifted her and sat her on his lap. “You know I love Aunt Careen?”

“Yes, and we hope you
gonna
marry her.”

Frances grasped his hand. “Pa? You
gonna
marry her, right?”

“Do you want me to? Do you want Careen as your mother?”

Both girls chimed the answer together. “Yes!”

His heart sang with happiness. “I’m glad to hear that, because I want to marry her, too.”

“When?”

He laughed. “I don’t know, but soon.” He kissed each daughter before tucking them back into bed. “Now go to sleep and we’ll have to talk about this tomorrow. But don’t say anything to Aunt Careen. I haven’t even asked her if she wants to marry me, yet.”

“She does, Pa.” Frances said. “We saw her kissing you tonight.”

“Good, but let me ask her myself, all right?”

“Yes, Pa.”
Both girls giggled.

As he left the room and shut the door, he grinned so wide his cheeks hurt. At least he knew his girls wanted Careen as their mother. He walked to his room, and as he passed Careen’s room, he listened by her door and heard her moving around, humming a song. His heart lifted again as he continued to his own room.

Tomorrow he’d ask her to marry him. He still didn’t know how to make the moment romantic, but he couldn’t wait another day. Now that his girls knew, he suspected they’d want to say something to
Careen
before he had the chance.

He didn’t light the lamp when he entered his bedroom, only because the quarter moon gave him enough light to undress. As he unbuttoned his shirt, he moved to the window to once again make sure all was well outside. What he saw instead startled him. His heart dropped as panic gripped his chest.

Four of men were lying on the ground.
Unmoving.
Joshua couldn’t tell if they’d been killed or had just fallen asleep, yet the position of their bodies told him they were not sleeping!

Toward the stable, something moved, and Joshua studied the object closer. A woman had pulled open the doors and was entering.
Betsy?
What was she doing in the stable? By the frightened expression on her face, he knew she wasn’t delivering mugs of hot chocolate to the ranch hands.

Joshua grabbed his coat and gun, and rushed out of his room. Cautiously, he stepped onto the front porch. The night was silent. As he passed the men on the ground, he could see none had a bullet hole in them. Instead, they were all still holding their mugs of hot chocolate. Joshua knelt to the ground and lifted the empty mug to his nose, inhaling deeply. It didn’t smell like hot chocolate. If his suspicions were correct, Betsy had put something in the drink to make the men fall asleep.
But why?

He crept to the stable. One of the double-doors stood ajar. Inside, he could hear a man’s voice and a frightened woman’s high pitch. Joshua listened closer to hear what they were saying.

“I did everything you told me to do,” sobbed the woman.

“Everything except for bringing Careen out here,” the man snapped.

Joshua hitched a breath and crept to one of the windows to peek inside. The man’s back was toward the window, but his orange-red hair was very noticeable.
Luther?
But…it couldn’t be. That man was in jail!

Luther grabbed Betsy’s by the shoulders and shook her. “I should have known better than to trust you.”

Tears streaked down the servant’s face. “But wasn’t it I who told you where Careen was marrying Matthew? And tonight, I helped as well.”

Anger built inside of Joshua. Betsy had been in cohorts with Luther this whole time? Careen would be devastated when she found out.

“So then why aren’t I married to her now?” Luther shoved Betsy and she fell onto the hay. “Why are we still in Montana and not back home in Iowa? For goodness sake, I should be in Charleston by now! My reputation is at stake because of
you.
Believe
me,
I don’t treat people kindly who try to hurt me and my business.”

“Things have been complicated here.”

Luther slapped the servant across the face. “You are more trouble than you’re worth. I should have turned you into the authorities years ago.”

“No,” she gasped, rising to her knees as she gripped his leg. “Please don’t turn me in. I’ll do anything you want.”

Joshua scratched his chin. Apparently Luther was blackmailing poor Betsy. Well, it was time to end all of this. Luther needed to be stopped, and it fell on Joshua’s shoulders to do it. He’d gladly put the evil cousin back behind bars.

When Joshua turned, he stumbled into a prickly bush. Trying not to make too much noise, he untangled his foot before creeping around to the front of the stable. He took a deep breath, tightened his hands on his rifle, and rushed inside.

But Luther was gone.

Betsy stood staring wide-eyed at Joshua as she wrung her hands against her middle. Luther snickered to himself. Joshua couldn’t see him…yet.

“Where’s Luther?” Joshua snapped at the maid.

The maid sobbed and brought her hand to her mouth. Luther quickly stepped out of the empty stall and shoved his pistol in Joshua’s back. The clicking of the barrel made Joshua’s body stiffen.

“I’m right behind you,” Luther growled. “Now drop your gun.”

Slowly, Joshua’s shoulders wilted and he lowered the rifle to his side.

“I said
drop
it, Grayson!” He pushed his pistol deeper into Joshua’s back.

Joshua did as instructed and the rifle fell to the ground.

“Now move over by Betsy.”

Joshua took slow steps toward the servant. Softly she cried, her fist muffling the sound from her mouth. The other man turned and faced Luther. Hatred blazed from Grayson’s eyes and Luther was sure the man would kill him if given a chance. But Luther didn’t plan on making that an option.

“Are you going to kill me like you killed my brother,” Joshua asked.

Luther shrugged indifferently. “I’d rather not kill you.”

“Oh, really?”
Joshua arched an eyebrow.
“Why not?”

“Because you’re not married to her like Matthew was. Your brother made the mistake of exchanging vows with her. He had to die.” He shrugged. “All I want now is to take the love of my life with me tonight back to Iowa where we both belong.”

Joshua shook his head. “That’s not going to happen.”

“Yes it is, thanks to Betsy’s help.”

Joshua looked at the maid. Her red, puffy eyes nearly pleaded for forgiveness.

“What have you done, Betsy?” Joshua asked softly.

“I put the same sleeping draught that I gave the ranch hands into your family’s drinks tonight. Everyone is asleep.”

“Why aren’t I asleep? And why didn’t it affect my daughters?”

She shrugged. “I didn’t put anything in the girls’ drinks, and I’m assuming you didn’t drink anything at dinner.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“That’s why you’re still awake,” she answered with a wrenched voice as she lowered her gaze.

Luther motioned his gun toward Joshua. “No more of this. I’ve wasted enough time here already. Betsy, tie him up. I’d rather not kill him if I don’t have to.”

Betsy ran to get the rope hanging on the wall while Joshua threw heated glares at Luther.

“You’re not going to take Careen. I won’t let you,” Grayson warned.

Luther threw back his head and laughed. This insipid man didn’t know Luther Kennedy very well. True, up until now he’d been dealt the short end of the stick, but finally things were going his way. He would indeed win. And in time, he’d become a very powerful man. “Don’t be too sure of yourself. I have always come out ahead.”

“So have I.”

“Not this time.”

Betsy tried to wrap the rope around Joshua’s wrists, but the stubborn man struggled. She whimpered, trying harder, but it was quite obvious Joshua wouldn’t let her.

“I can’t tie him,” she whined.

“Oh, good grief.”
Luther lifted his gun, pointing it toward Joshua’s head. “It looks like I’m going to have to kill you after all. And why not carry on the tradition with shooting you in the head. After all, it worked well that way for your brother.”

Luther released a malicious chuckle before becoming serious and steadying his aim. “Say your prayers – even though I know they won’t help.”

The blast of the pistol exploded, and Joshua squeezed his eyes closed. Instead of Grayson falling to the ground like Luther had expected, the jolt of the bullet hit him and knocked him off balance. His right arm blazed with pain, as warm sticky blood flowed from his shoulder.

In shock, Luther fell to the ground and clutched his wound.
What had just happened?
Blood poured between his fingers, and slowly his arm turned numb.

Betsy sank to the ground, crying hysterically. Joshua stood staring at Luther with an expression of utter amazement. Then the man’s focus shifted to the stable door. Luther swung his gaze in that direction. Holding the still smoking rifle, Careen walked toward him.

Joshua rushed to her, taking her shaking body in his arms. She smiled at him through quivering lips.

“I’m sorry…I’m late,” she said.

* * * *

Careen’s heartbeat hammered so hard she thought her ribs would break. And her hands shook so badly, she was surprised she had hit her target. The bewilderment, yet relief, on Joshua’s face let her know he was all right.

She glanced back at her cousin who groaned in agony as he rocked back and forth on his knees. “I missed,” she said.

“No, sweetheart.”
Joshua kissed her forehead. “You shot him in the arm.”

“I know. I was aiming for his head.”

Joshua chuckled as he took the rifle from her. “At least you stopped him from killing me.”

Nodding, she gazed up at the man she loved. “That was my plan.”

“How did you know?”

“From out my bedroom window, I saw you sneaking around. That’s when I noticed the ranch hands lying on the ground. I knew you needed my help.” She aimed her glare back to her cousin. “When I received that telegraph, I had a feeling not to believe it. Luther I know you well, and suspected you were up to no good.”

Joshua kissed her forehead. “Your instincts were correct. Now let’s get him tied up and I’ll fetch the sheriff.”

While Joshua wrapped the rope around Luther’s wrists and ankles, she continued to shoot glares at Luther. “Why? Why did you think you needed to kill people over my measly inheritance?”

Luther glared at her. “It wasn’t over your measly inheritance. I love you!”

“No, you don’t. You love power and money – and possession. You love yourself more than anything else. So why did you do this?”

“Does it matter now?”

“Yes. I want to know why you killed Matthew and almost killed Joshua.”

“Well, my dear cousin, you don’t have a
measly
inheritance like you think. I have a group of men waiting for me in Charleston and a man from Ireland who I need to pay. The man from Ireland is selling me a shipment of guns, and they’ll be delivered to your family’s plantation in Charleston. The river running along the property was perfect for the exchange. But in order to get your inheritance, I must become your husband.”

Careen shook her head. “Why were you smuggling guns, Luther?”

“The
lot of us were
tired of the Yankees taking over our towns. We want our history back!”

She rolled her eyes.
“Oh, Luther.
Why can’t you see the past is behind us now? We will never get it back.” She shook her head. “The war is over. Let’s not start another one.”

Careen’s maid continued to wail. She walked to Betsy and knelt by her side. “Why did you do it?”

Betsy wiped her eyes and shook her head. “I had no other choice. Luther would have turned me in to the authorities otherwise.”

“What had you done that was so terrible it made you
want
to obey Luther?”

“Before you came to live with your aunt and uncle,” Betsy sniffed and dragged her sleeve under her nose, “Luther witnessed me killing a man.”

Careen gasped, putting a comforting hand on her servant’s shoulder. “Why did you kill a man?”

“He was attacking me. The lowlife northerner tried to have his way with me.” She shook her head. “I wouldn’t let him, so I shot him.” She moved her attention to Luther. “Your cousin said he’d turn me in for killing a soldier unless I helped him.” Shrugging, she met Careen’s stare again. “I decided I’d do anything to stay out of jail or away from the hangman’s noose. I never thought I’d regret my decision until now. Luther had me doing some despicable things over the years, but trying to help him marry you has been the worst.”

Betsy frowned as more tears collected in her eyes. “I was the one who told Luther where you were meeting Matthew. I was the reason he killed your husband.” Tears fell faster.

Rubbing her forehead, Careen closed her eyes. Although it hurt to think her trusted servant – who had been a good friend – had done this, relief poured over Careen, knowing it was finally over.

“If I go to jail, so do you, Betsy,” Luther barked.

Careen snapped her attention to her evil cousin. “I don’t think so. You have been blackmailing her, and because she killed a man trying to protect
herself
, I think the judge will be more lenient with her. However—” she stood and marched over to him, kicking him in the leg, “—I can’t wait to attend your hanging, and I’ll be cheering the whole time.”

“And I’ll be standing next to her,” Joshua added, “as her husband.”

She gasped and met Joshua’s eyes.
“My…husband?”

He groaned and raked his fingers through his hair. “Oh, Careen, sweetheart. I didn’t mean to say it that way.” He took a deep breath. “I’d meant to propose in a more romantic setting, I assure you, but… Well, I just had to let your foolish cousin know that I have won. Not him.”

Happiness burst inside her and she fell to his side. His arms wrapped around her as he held her close.

“Joshua, it would be my privilege to become your wife and the mother of your daughters.”

He smiled wide. “No, believe me, the privilege will be all mine.”