Page 43 of Tempest (Old West 3)

“Yes,” Colt replied tersely. “Whit and I are riding up to the Bailey place later. We don’t know if Dun’s involved but we’ll see.”

The outlaws who’d been with Dun’s now deceased brother, Jeb, were still in the sheriff’s jail and would remain there until the circuit judge arrived. Rumor had it that some of the stagecoach bigwigs would be on hand for the proceedings.

Denby said, “Little lady saved my life. I don’t want anything happening to her. Tell Whit if he needs help finding who did it, I’m his man.”

A few others threw in their support, too. She’d won many hearts at the wedding with her horseshoe skills and open smile.

“I’ll let him know.”

Colt left them to their checkers. Passing the general store, he heard a loud cheer go up inside. Knowing his wife and her penchant for chaos, he figured she was probably involved. Shaking his head with amusement, he kept walking. He’d find out what it meant soon enough.

What he found out was that she purchased enough to nearly fill his wagon’s bed. “All this?” he asked as he made room for yet another crate handed up to him by Wayne Meachem, one of the store’s clerks.

“I didn’t buy anything we didn’t need,” she said, coming to her own defense.

For a man who’d spent his life pinching pennies, he was overwhelmed. There was also a crowd watching the loading. He wanted to tell them to scat but knew they wouldn’t. His rifle-shooting, horseshoe-slinging bride would be the topic of discussion at dinner tables all over the county. One of the onlookers called out, “She bought you a new stove, too, Doc. Lacy has to order it though.”

His eyes shot to Regan. She met it without flinching. Filled with disbelief, he set the last crate down and they both climbed to the wagon seat. He glanced over. “Is that it? No cows or horses or railroad cars?”

She snorted. “Not today.”

“Then I can drive home?”

“Yes, please.”

Their eyes held. She still wore a trace of a smile and she sparkled like sunbeams on a stream. In spite of his inner battle, he was becoming ensnared by her exuberant charm and wasn’t sure what to do about it. Turning away, he set the team in motion. Applause from the crowd rang out, and like a queen, she waved good-bye to her royal subjects. Amused, he didn’t know what to make of that either.

After clearing town, he reached into his pocket. “Odell said this telegraph came for you.”

She opened it and read it. When he looked over, her teary eyes set off concern. “What’s wrong?”

She wiped her eyes. “Just so happy to hear from my family. I miss them dearly.”

“Are they well?”

“Yes. Aunt Eddy wants to know if I need anything.”

“Is there anything left for you to buy?”

“As a matter of fact, yes. Miller didn’t have chilies, so I’ll let her know to send some.”

“Chilies?” he asked warily.

“For tortillas. I need black beans, too. Miller just had regular dried beans. I grew up eating the food of Mexico and I miss that, too.”

Colt wondered if he’d ever learn all her facets. Having spent most of his life in the Territory, he had no idea what went into the food of Mexico. How were black beans different, he wondered.

“When is the sheriff going to speak to Bailey? Did he say?”

“This afternoon. I’m going with him.”

She went quiet for a few moments, then looked his way and asked, “Have you ever killed anyone?”

He studied her seriously set features. “No. There have a been few times I thought my skills should’ve saved a life but I’ve never taken one.”

“I’d never taken one either before the stagecoach shooting.”

“Is it bothering you?”

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