Page 79 of A Dangerous Heart
“Got ’im!” Eli grunted and lifted the frog in his hands in front of him.
“It took a lot of courage for him to testify against Victor’s gang and their past activities,” Clare said. They both watched Eli hand the frog over to Ben.
“He’s got courage to spare all right.” Isaac turned to give Clare his full attention.
“Yes, but I worry?—”
Isaac squeezed her hand. “We’ll keep ’em both close. McGraws have a way of staying annoyingly cozy, even when you don’t want them around.”
His thoughts wandered as he watched the boys absently. His brothers and their posse had taken down most of the Barlow Gang. Victor and two of his men had been killed at the camp. Tom Crow had been captured by Jack. Crow had had his day in court and received a long prison sentence, thanks to Eli’s testimony. Eli had heard his father lay out the whole plan. The Barlow Gang had hired on with the Diamond Q as a cover. They’d had an agreement with Quade’s foreman. They’d blow up the bridge and help divert the water, but they would do it on the day the train came through so they could rob the safe.
Boom Dawkins had escaped.
And Quade had gotten off scot-free again. Quade and his high-paid lawyer, plus a couple of character witnesses, had been able to convince the circuit judge that Quade had had no knowledge of the plan to blow up the bridge and rob the train. Quade had blamed it all on his foreman.
The only good thing was that, because of the scrutiny, Quade had had to abandon his plan to divert the river and ruin the McGraws. There were some rumbles in town about the ethics of that plan. Maybe the tide would turn.
Isaac wouldn’t hold his breath.
“When will you leave?” Clare asked quietly, her eyes on the boys.
Leave.
She meant go back to the Marshals. They’d talked about Isaac’s work with the Marshals, whether he should return. He didn’t want to leave Clare and the boys, but she had become his staunch advocate, going on about how it was the work he was called to do. She was right.
But not before Christmas. Those boys deserved a family Christmas.
“I’ll be home before you know it. Can’t stay away from you.”
He wasn’t going to think about that right now. The sun was shining, his boys were happy to play along the water’s edge, and he had his beautiful wife all to himself. In a gunfighter’s lightning-fast move, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him. She let out a startled squeal before his warm lips found hers in a searing kiss, one that lasted long enough for Ben’s tattling, singsong voice to ring out over the gurgling water.
“Ew. They’re kissing again.”
Clare lifted her head and laughed. She got to her feet, straightening her skirt.
“I’m going to head up to the cabin and take the clothes off the line. Hand me the basket.”
As Isaac handed her the basket, she teased him. “I made bread this morning. Maybe between the three of you, someone will snag a few fish for supper.”
“You want me to multiply the fish while you make the loaves?”
She marched away, but he caught the smile that spread across her face.
“Finally! I thought she’d never leave,” Ben said, hobbling toward Isaac using the crutch.
When he saw Isaac’s brows lift, he hurriedly added, “She’s a good aunt and all, but we’ve been waiting for days for you to show us how you learned to quick draw.”
Eli leaned their poles against a tree nearby. “Nick says he doesn’t remember a day when you didn’t practice when you were young.” Eli met his eyes. “You said you’d teach us.” Eli remembered every one of Isaac’s promises like they were scripture.
“We won’t tell Aunt Clare. We promise,” Ben cajoled, putting on his most innocent expression.
Isaac saw right through the manipulation. “Whoa. We’re not keeping this from Clare. A man doesn’t keep secrets from his wife. Since I aim to be an honorable man and a good husband, I don’t keep secrets from Clare.”
“None?” Ben’s face was screwed up in a comical mask.
“Not one,” Isaac said firmly. But he ruffled Ben’s hair on his way to set up several cans on a thick branch between two stumps just a few feet apart. Returning to the spot they’d shoot from, Isaac put his hands on his hips and waited until both boys gave him their attention. “Secrets cause mistrust, make you distance yourself from the very people you think you’re protecting. The hero may fight alone and ride off into the sunset in those dime novels Clare’s been reading to you. But in real life, you’re gonna need family and friends to ride with you if you’re going to survive out there.”
He let that settle while he went inside to get his belt and gun. Surprise and excitement flickered in Eli’s eyes when Isaac held the belt out to him. Eli took it and strapped it on, his fingers fumbling with the buckle and missing the belt hole on the first attempt.
