Page 16 of A Steadfast Heart (Wind River Mail-Order Brides #2)

H ow did I ever live like this?

Kaitlyn tried and failed to take a deep breath. In only two months, she’d gotten used to the looser fashions in the West. Her tweed traveling suit with its required corset was strangling her.

Danna coughed, and Merritt wiped watering eyes. Coal smoke from a thousand cookstoves tickled Kaitlyn’s throat. In the four days they’d spent attempting to get an audience with the judge, she hadn’t drawn an easy breath. Neither had her traveling companions.

They passed another crossroad. Businesses jostled each other for their tiny slice of street front. On the other side of the street, grand mansions had large yards. Well, large by city standards. They were nothing close to the wide open ranges in Wyoming.

Thankfully, they only had half a block to go. The sooner this task was finished, the better.

“Those are some fine houses,” Merritt said.

And they make fine prisons . Kaitlyn squeezed her eyes closed. Not every family in St. Louis was like hers. She needed to remember that.

They entered the courthouse, and Kaitlyn’s heels echoed against the mosaic floor. The dome above their heads glowed with warm terra-cotta between ivory ribs. This building dedicated to upholding the law felt like a cathedral. Surely she would finally get justice here.

Danna laid a hand on her shoulder. “Do you have your appearance request?”

Kaitlyn took a deep breath, then brought out the letter from Judge Peterson. “Room 211. Upstairs, I guess.” In a matter of moments, they stood before the door to the judge’s office.

Danna reached to open it, but Merritt rested a hand on her shoulder. “Just a minute, Danna.” She turned to Kaitlyn. “Remember, we’re here for you, no matter what. That’s what family does.”

Family sticks . Drew’s words echoed in Kaitlyn’s memory. Drew. The kids. The brothers. The ranch.

Lord, I only want what’s supposed to be mine so I can help the only real family I’ve ever known. Please help us.

Kaitlyn smiled at Merritt and Danna. “Thank you. I appreciate you both.” Then she opened the door.

The judge sat behind his desk, and Michael stood beside him. His suit was cut to perfection, but he didn’t have the shoulders to fill it out. Not like Drew.

Her stomach roiled. Drew wasn’t here.

She wanted to run all the way back to Wyoming, where a rough cowboy had been the first man to ever make her feel safe.

She squared her shoulders. Drew needed her here.

The judge stood, his black robe flowing to his feet. His expression was serious. “Please, come in. Sit down.”

There were only two chairs in front of the judge’s desk.

Danna stepped beside her. “We’re still here, right behind you,” she said softly. Kaitlyn was aware of her friends’ every move as Danna and Merritt found spots on the bench behind the chairs.

Kaitlyn slipped her hand into her pocket, running her finger over the paper hidden there. Tillie had drawn a picture of the five of them as a family. Kaitlyn stiffened her backbone. She’d come a long way to speak the truth. Michael wouldn’t stop her. She sat in the chair on the left.

Michael sat next to her. His cologne turned her stomach. She focused on the judge. His hair was the color of iron, and his posture was just as unyielding. He gestured to Michael. “Your brother has been telling me some of his concerns.”

From the corner of her eye, she saw Michael look her way and smile. “I’ve been so worried about you, sister.”

She ignored her brother and focused on Judge Peterson. “Your Honor, I’m here to claim my inheritance. I’ve married, which meets the requirements?—”

Michael shook his head. “Your Honor, the marriage is under investigation.”

The judge stared at them both, frowning. “I’m going to tell you both how it works in my chambers. You will each have your turn, and you will not interrupt each other. Is that clear?”

“Of course, Your Honor.” Michael’s expression couldn’t have been more sincere, except for the subtle tightening around his eyes.

Kaitlyn nodded. A chill raised the hairs on her arms, and she resisted the urge to rub them. Michael would notice. The judge might, as well.

“Very well.” The judge removed his spectacles and leaned back. “Since the young lady’s argument is straightforward, I want to hear from you, Mr. Montgomery. Why is her marriage under investigation?”

Michael rose to his feet. “I’m her brother and her guardian. I didn’t give my permission for her marriage.”

“How old is your sister?”

“Twenty-three, Your Honor.”

“Old enough to marry without a guardian’s permission.”

“Under normal circumstances. I’m afraid the circumstances are not normal. You see, Kaitlyn hasn’t been the same since our father died. She stopped seeing her friends. Fired the entire staff in a fit of hysterics. I thought she was doing better when she started spending time with me again instead of staying alone in her room. I’m afraid I let my guard down. Then I found out she was…” Michael’s gaze dropped. “Well, Your Honor, I’d rather not say the words, not about my own sister.”

Kaitlyn’s cheeks warmed, but she refused to drop her eyes. She’d done nothing wrong.

The judge studied each of them for a moment before focusing on Michael. “Young man, this is a courtroom. Facts must be presented, not implied.”

Michael’s lips narrowed. “Yes, Your Honor. I learned my sister was having an affair with a married man. I kept her home, but she snuck out of the house and ran away. She left a diary filled with rambling entries showing she clearly wasn’t in her right mind.” Michael held up a book. “I brought it to show you.”

Kaitlyn’s heart banged in her chest. That diary was fabricated. It didn’t belong to her—Michael must’ve written it. Or hired someone to do it. She watched the judge’s face. Would he believe her brother’s lies?

“I looked for her everywhere,” Michael continued. “I take my duty to my sister seriously, but I feared she was dead.”

Michael withdrew a bundle of papers from his jacket pocket. “I didn’t know she’d married until her lawyer contacted mine. And then I learned the name of the groom.” He put the papers on the judge’s desk, along with the leather book. “Your Honor, this Drew McGraw was so desperate for a wife that he let my sister substitute for his mail-order bride, and she agreed to it. That’s clearly not a sane decision.”

The judge took the letters. “Where did you get these?”

“From the woman who had the good sense to refuse to marry a stranger. I only wish my sister had done the same.”

The judge nodded, pulled out the first letter, and skimmed it.

Michael’s gaze cut to Kaitlyn. He returned to his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly.

The chill spread from her limbs and invaded her heart. He was sure he had won.

Finally, the judge looked up. “I’m not going to take the time to read all of these at this moment, but I may need to before I make a decision. Meanwhile, I’ve heard your arguments.” He turned to Kaitlyn. “What do you have to say about this?”

She rose, her knees wobbling under her. “Your Honor, the stories about my…” She swallowed hard. Even her ears were burning now. “…activities are just that, stories. They aren’t true. The facts in this case come down to money.” Her voice trembled. She swallowed a couple of times, trying to steady it. “My brother has managed my inheritance since my father passed away. He used the money in ways that only benefitted himself. It is true that I let the staff go. He mismanaged the funds so badly that there was no choice.”

Michael scoffed. “Your Honor, financial matters are beyond the ken of the feminine mind.”

The judge eyed Michael, his expression stern. “You have had your turn. It is hers now.”

Kaitlyn’s heart rose from her boots. The judge wasn’t allowing Michael’s interruption.

Her voice strengthened. “I managed our household as best I could, but he continued to squander the money we had left.” She met the judge’s gaze squarely. “I was completely in my right mind when I went to the train station on my own and when I met Drew McGraw. No one forced me into marriage.” She touched the picture in her pocket. She couldn’t wait to get back home and hug that little artist.

Home. The ranch was home. Or was it Drew that made it home?

“Your Honor, the two months I’ve spent in Wyoming have been the happiest in my life.”

Danna stood and cleared her throat.

The judge looked at her. “Do you have something to add?” She stepped forward and placed the copy of Kaitlyn’s marriage license on the judge’s desk. “Your Honor, the character of Mr. McGraw is not the question today, though I can speak to it, if you wish me to.”

“And you are?”

“The marshal of Calvin, Wyoming. I’ve known Mr. McGraw for years. He’s not rich, but he is an honorable man. He’d never steal from anyone, much less his sister like Mr. Montgomery here did. But the only question today is if Mrs. McGraw’s marriage is legal. When this issue came to my attention, I found the county’s copy of the marriage license and questioned the preacher who performed the ceremony. He told me very clearly that Kaitlyn was present of her own free will.”

Michael moved closer to the judge’s desk. “Your Honor, no woman in her right mind would make the decisions my sister made. She left a good home to marry a stranger.”

“Your Honor, not only has my brother taken my inheritance for his own use, he has also prevented me from following paths to support myself. When I had an offer to teach school, he found the letter and the train ticket and burned them. All because he was determined that I should marry his friend, Brian Matthews. I could not agree to his ultimatum, and I was forced to sneak out of my own home.”

The judge templed his fingers in front of his lips and stared at Kaitlyn for a long moment. She didn’t drop her gaze. She’d only told the truth.

After what felt like an eternity, the judge dropped his hands. His lips were compressed to a thin line. “Would this be the same Brian Matthews that I am familiar with?”

“If you mean the man that runs most of the illegal gambling and other…activities in St. Louis, then yes.”

The judge examined the license in front of him, then measured Kaitlyn and Danna with a glance. He inspected Michael, and his lips twisted slightly. He looked back to Kaitlyn. “I’ve heard enough. I’m ordering that your inheritance be released to you.”

Michael jumped to his feet. “You can’t do that.”

The judge’s eyes narrowed. “You will not tell me what I can and can’t do in my own courtroom. You may leave now. Your sister has some papers to sign.”

Kaitlyn’s eyes slid closed for a moment, and her heart leapt against its tethers. She had won. She hadn’t thought it possible, but she had won. She smiled at the judge. “Thank you, Your Honor.”

“I wish you well in your marriage.”

Michael glared at Kaitlyn, then stormed out.

Merritt pulled her into a hug. “You did it, Kaitlyn. You did it.”

Kaitlyn watched her brother leave. Hopefully, she’d never see him again and she could focus on Drew and the kids. Her real family.

After signing multiple legal papers, Kaitlyn finally left the courthouse with her friends. Their next stop was the bank. The sooner they worked out the paperwork for the money transfer, the better. The crowd pressed in close, and Merritt stumbled into the street.

Clopping hooves and a shout rang out, and Danna rushed to reach her.

From out of the crowd, someone pressed close to Kaitlyn. A hand circled her upper arm, squeezing tight enough to leave bruises.

Michael.

“This isn’t over.” His voice vibrated with threat, but then he was gone, disappeared into the crowd.

Merritt and Danna rejoined her as she scanned the crowd.

Merritt brushed her skirt with her hands. “Someone shoved me into the street.”

Shock tore the breath from her lungs. Michael had pushed Merritt, just to create a distraction. He hadn’t cared if Merritt got hurt. Or even killed. Spots danced before her eyes, and she forced her chest to expand, to pull in the polluted air.

Danna looked at Kaitlyn carefully. “Are you okay?”

Kaitlyn rubbed her chest. “I will be, as soon as I’m home.”

* * *

“Looks like you’re behind, McGraw.” Quade drew his chestnut thoroughbred to a halt at the empty foundation of what would be Ed’s cabin. “Wonder what’s slowing you down.”

Drew’s pulse pounded in his ears. Quade knew very well what was slowing them down. He’d sent his hands to scatter their herd, and now he was here to gloat. Drew stopped by the water barrel and got a drink. He wanted to pour it over Quade’s head, except with the sun as hot as it was, the man would probably enjoy it.

Quade leaned forward in his saddle and made a show of examining the work the McGraws hadn’t completed. If the man were on the ground, he’d be swaggering.

“I’d still like to buy your spread,” Quade said. “Of course, I’d have to decrease my offer, seeing as how you’re so close to missing your deadline. I’d guess half my previous offer would be about right. It’d be better than nothing.”

Drew’s hands fisted at his sides. “This is my land, and you aren’t welcome here.”

“Fair enough, but I’ll be back in a couple of days. With Ernie Duff. You won’t be able to run me off this land then. And I’ll get it for even less.”

Drew watched Quade ride off until the man passed the main homestead half a mile away. Then he turned to watch his brother.

Ed walked the foundation of his soon-to-be home, checking for loose boards. He knelt to check the level at each corner.

The land was cleared and leveled over a much larger area. The area originally planned for his brother’s house. Before they had accepted they would have to take Wilson’s offer for the bull. Before they’d lost the grazing rights to their neighbor’s land.

Now all they could afford was a twelve-by-fourteen shack.

And where was the hay going to come from?

Drew shook his head. He’d hoped Kaitlyn would be able to settle her inheritance quickly, but something was delaying her. He’d told her not to send a telegram so they didn’t tip their hand to Quade, but he regretted it now. She’d left over two weeks ago, and he didn’t have much time left. He’d have to go through his herd and make some hard decisions. Selling half his cattle would buy enough hay to keep the other half alive.

Hopefully.

Ed stopped next to him. “We’re ready to go. Best get at it if we’re to get things done by the deadline. Probably have to work straight through if we’re to even have a chance.”

The deadline. Three days to raise a shed. Not that hard if they had all the material on hand. Which they didn’t. Haskin’s lumberyard had raised its prices. They’d had to settle for green lumber, and only half enough to do the job.

Drew rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. Why was he even out here? His time would be better spent separating his herd. This was impossible.

With God, all things are possible.

Well, unless God planned to multiply the boards like He had the bread and fishes so long ago, they were done for. But they were McGraws. They didn’t know when to quit. “Think I’d better check on Quade first. I want to make sure he didn’t find his way back onto our land. Still, you should have your own roof in a couple of days.”

Ed shrugged. “The bunkhouse ain’t so bad. Sure miss Kaitlyn’s cooking though.”

Kaitlyn. Drew had missed more than her cooking. He’d missed the times they shared a joke with a simple look. The times she’d brought him a cup of coffee when he was working in the barn. The smell of lavender she carried with her. The small joys she’d brought with her had snuck up on him, and now he wondered how he’d ever lived without them.

Drew ran his hammer through his belt loop and followed the trail to the main house. Quade’s horse stood near the entrance to the road.

Drew’s chest seized up. Several men on horseback accompanied a wagon. Dust obscured the people’s identities. Who could be headed this way? If Quade had moved aside for them, it couldn’t be good.

A door slammed. Tillie ran across the yard. “Kaitlyn! It’s Kaitlyn!”

Drew strained his eyes against the dust and caught sight of a patch of green calico and a bit of blonde hair. His knees weakened and his heart floated free. She’d come back.

Quade’s eyes narrowed as the wagon passed him and entered the path to their house.

The driver stopped at the corral. Tillie climbed into the wagon and clung to Kaitlyn like a little monkey. Not that Kaitlyn seemed to mind. She wore his favorite green dress, her blonde hair a bit ragged from travel and Tillie’s greeting, but he’d never seen a more beautiful sight. She slid Tillie to the ground and gathered her skirt to climb down herself. Drew hurried to help her. She’d been in the wagon a long time, so her legs might be weak. And if it gave him an excuse to touch her, well, he was her husband after all. He put one hand on either side of her waist and lifted her down. How could someone who didn’t weigh much more than one of his calves transform an entire ranch? Nothing had felt right while she was gone.

One of the riders chuckled, and Drew released Kaitlyn’s waist. His hands tingled from the too-brief contact. “You’re late,” he murmured.

Kaitlyn’s cheeks reddened, and she looked down. “We couldn’t get in to see the judge for a few days. And the banker took a few days more.”

“I missed you,” Drew murmured.

“Your wife said you had work for us, McGraw.”

With difficulty, Drew tore his gaze from Kaitlyn’s face. It wasn’t that he hadn’t seen the riders. They just hadn’t mattered. Not once he’d seen Kaitlyn. He forced himself to step back from her. “What’s all this?” He gestured to the men surrounding them.

Her smile rivaled the sunrise. “We did it. The judge released my funds. Most of it was transferred to the bank at Calvin, but I brought enough with me to buy lumber for Ed’s house. Good seasoned lumber, just like he wanted. I had a bit left over, so I brought along some hands to work.”

The driver pulled a lever on the wagon and the brake screeched.

Kaitlyn spun, one hand to her chest.

Drew stepped closer. She was jumpy. Like she’d been the first few days after she’d gotten here. What else had happened in St. Louis? He drew her against him and pointed toward Ed back at his building site. “Go ahead and take the supplies over there. We’ll be along shortly.”

Ed gestured for the workers to come toward him. The men on horseback moved that way, and the wagon followed.

Drew glanced at Tillie. “Go get your brother and sister. We’re all going to the building site.”

“But Pa. Kaitlyn just gotted back.”

“Which is why Jo and David need to be told she is here. Go on, now.”

Tillie trudged across the yard, looking back to Kaitlyn as often as she watched where she was going.

Once she was inside, Drew turned Kaitlyn to face him. “What happened? Tell me the rest of it before the kids get back.”

“Like I said, the judge couldn’t see us immediately, but once he did, he was fair. He didn’t accept Michael’s word?—”

“Michael was there?” Drew’s hands fisted, wanting to pummel her worthless half-brother. “I knew I should have gone with you. Did he touch you, hurt you?”

“He took my arm a couple of times.”

And left bruises, he’d guess, by the look on her face. “Are you okay, Katie?”

Her face crumpled at the endearment, and she flung herself into his chest. “I was so scared! But I remembered you and the kids, how much this mattered. I told the truth, and the judge listened. I couldn’t wait to get home.”

Home.

A door slammed and feet pounded across the porch. The kids would be here soon. Kaitlyn pulled back and pushed a few tendrils behind her ears.

Drew took her hand in his, her return filling the empty places Amanda’s desertion had left in his heart. “That’s my girl. Good job.”

“What’d Kaitlyn do good?” Tillie stopped beside him, breathless from her run.

Kaitlyn pulled Tillie up against her. “It’s boring grown-up stuff. Not like the boxes in the wagon. Think we should follow it to find out what’s in there?”

Tillie squirmed down. “Presents? I’ll find mine.” She took off after the wagon.

David and Jo hesitated. Kaitlyn smiled at them. “Go on. I didn’t forget you. Just watch Tillie around the horses.”

David and Jo followed Tillie. Kaitlyn looked at Drew, her expression serious. “Drew, Michael found me after the hearing. He told me he wasn’t finished. I’m still worried he’ll come here. He’ll try something.”

The judge had accepted her marriage and released her inheritance. The money was in Kaitlyn’s bank account. Michael couldn’t do anything now. Could he?

He shook his head. Today’s problem was raising a cabin. He took Kaitlyn’s hand and guided her toward the building site. Too bad the walk couldn’t be longer. He could get used to her small hand in his.

A few minutes later, they reached the site. Ed stood near the back of the wagon, talking to the workers and gesturing toward the foundation. Drew moved toward him, and Kaitlyn followed.

Brady touched Ed’s arm. “I can stand guard tonight, if you want.”

Ed looked puzzled. “Stand guard?”

“It’s no secret Quade wants this land. They never proved how the Fogelsons’ cabin burned down, and he bought the Tates’ homestead right out from under them.”

Ed looked Drew’s way as he stopped beside him. “Thanks for the offer. We may take you up on it.”

Drew glanced around the worksite, mentally cataloging the work remaining. They were so close, but they didn’t have approval yet. First, they had to get the cabin up, then they had to keep it up. Yeah, they might need a watch at night. What if Quade sent men over to burn down Ed’s new house?

Tillie ran toward him, waving the doll she’d no doubt found in the back of the wagon. Drew caught her and rescued the doll. “Careful, sweet pea. You don’t want to break her.”

Kaitlyn winced. “I should have left the gifts at the house.”

Drew placed the doll back in its padded box. “If it survived the trip all the way from St. Louis, it should be fine here for a few more hours.” He turned to Tillie. “You need to leave her there.”

Tillie nodded. “Yes, Pa.”

Jo and David showed him the new bridles Kaitlyn had brought for their horses. Kaitlyn retrieved another box. “This one’s for you.”

He took the box Kaitlyn held out to him and opened it to find a black hat. The label inside proclaimed it a Stetson. He swallowed hard. How had she known he’d been wanting one of those hats? They were rugged and waterproof yet stylish. He removed his beat-up work hat and put on the one she’d brought him. It fit perfectly. How had she known his size? He placed it back in its box. “That’ll be my Sunday hat.”

She laughed, and he soaked in the sound. She didn’t laugh enough. He planned to fix that.

“I knew you’d say that.” She nudged him with her shoulder. “Look in the other box.”

What had she done? She didn’t have to bring all these things. Didn’t she know she was enough? He gently opened the other box to find the same hat in a light gray.

Kaitlyn laid a hand on his arm. “The dark will stand up to work on a ranch. The gray’s for going to town. It will match your eyes.” She flushed and cleared her throat. “Plus, there are leather gloves for you and your brothers.”

“Kaitlyn, you shouldn’t have done this. It’s too much.”

“Nothing’s too much for my…family.”

He caught the hesitation and looked closer. Her eyes didn’t hold reluctance but hope. Her words lodged themselves into his heart. Her family . Her eyes sparkled as she watched the children’s joy. She probably thought they were only excited about the gifts she’d brought, but that wasn’t true. Even Jo had been out of sorts while Kaitlyn had been gone. More so than normal, that was.

He slid the dark hat on, and she reached to adjust the brim. “It looks good on you.”

Their gazes caught and tangled before his fell to her lips. They looked so soft. He jerked his eyes back to hers. “You’ll spoil us all.”

Her cheeks reddened. “This family deserves a little spoiling. Especially you, Drew.”

Her eyes were the color of rain-drenched moss. His finger reached out to touch her soft lips. If only they were alone.

“Kaitlyn?” Tillie’s voice echoed across the worksite.

Kaitlyn bit her lip and slowly turned away.

Her family , she’d said.

He wanted that. Wanted them to be a true family with love as the foundation.

But they’d made a deal to keep love out of their marriage. A deal he now regretted.

Maybe it wasn’t too late to change the terms.