Wrong Husband Read online

  “Long gone. Now get out!” She lifted the rifle to her eye and tried to gauge where to shoot him.

  He flipped the pistol in his hand and shot the top of the banister which was a mere five inches from her elbow.

  She yelped and almost dropped her rifle.

  “I didn’t miss, sweetheart. That was my warning. Now, tell me where the boy is or I’ll make sure he loses his mama.”

  Tears stung her eyes and she glared at Clyde. “What do you want with him?”

  “Where is he?” the other man barked.

  The front door flew open and Owen charged into the kitchen. “Hands up!”

  Clyde obeyed.

  The other man rolled his eyes. “I’ve handled worse. The boy belongs to Big Roy. Clyde over there”—he motioned to the trembling man who looked as if he was ready to pass out—“lost to Roy in game of poker. He couldn’t pony up, so he opted to give up the boy. Now, hand him over.”

  “No!” Jenny screamed. “Never!” She fired again and got within ten inches of shooting Owen’s foot.

  “Over there!” Owen said, shocked.

  “I was aiming over there,” she replied through her tears.

  “Let me handle this, Jenny,” Owen said in a voice that told her he knew what he was doing. “I’ve been trained for this.”

  She nodded at him but kept her rifle up and ready to shoot just in case the man got any ideas about shooting her in order to distract Owen.

  Owen directed his gaze at the man and kept his gun pointed at him. “The sheriff’s on his way, and he’s bringing Irving Spencer with him. You’re familiar with Irving Spencer, aren’t you? He’s the best deputy around. You can’t stand up against him.”

  “By the time they get here, I’ll be long gone.” In a swift movement, he directed his gun at Owen.

  Owen pulled his trigger first and shot him in the chest.

  Jenny gasped and almost dropped her rifle, but she quickly renewed her grip.

  The man dropped his pistol and fell to the floor.

  A moment of tense silence hung in the air before Owen directed the gun at Clyde.

  “Don’t shoot,” Clyde whimpered and held his hands up higher. “Please don’t shoot. I don’t want to die.”

  The sheriff and Irving stumbled into the house and studied the scene.

  “Did you do this?” Sheriff Meyer asked Owen.

  Jenny lowered the rifle. “That man was going to shoot him! And me! And he and Clyde were going to take Jeremy to Big Roy. Owen was defending us!” She knew she was rambling and yelling, but she was too shaken up to be calm or silent. “He’s a hero.”

  Owen’s gaze met hers and he smiled.

  In that moment, she relaxed and returned his smile. He really was a hero. Who needed Irving Spencer when she had Owen Russell to defend her and Jeremy?

  “It sure looks like you’re a hero to me,” the sheriff agreed.

  “Yep,” Irving said and patted Owen on the back.

  Owen lurched forward but stopped before he fell on his face.

  “Who knew you had it in you?” Irving said.

  Finally able to move, Jenny descended the staircase. She placed the rifle on the table and hugged her husband. “You did do a great job, Owen! I’m so proud of you.”

  Looking pleased, he pulled her close to his side. “Once I had it in my head that I needed to be there for you and Jeremy, the rest just fell into place.” He glanced out the doorway and called out, “Jeremy? It’s safe!”

  “You know where he hid?”

  “I saw him come down the ladder and found a couple of thick bushes for him to hide.”

  “Well, you did a fine job,” the sheriff said with a big smile. “A very fine job.”

  Jeremy ran into the house and into Jenny’s arms.

  She held the boy tightly. “Thank you, Owen.” And she meant that for more than what he did that day. For he was more than the man who saved her son. He was also a real father to him. And together, they were a real family. Just as she used to dream of but feared would never come to pass once she messed things up with Clyde.

  The sheriff grabbed Clyde by the arm. “Time to reap what you’ve sown, young man.”

  Jenny didn’t even look at Clyde as he and the sheriff left. Instead, she pressed her face against Jeremy’s blond hair and gave her thanks that Clyde would no longer be a problem.

  “I’ll make arrangements for Robert’s body.” Irving lifted the body as if it was no heavier than a bag of potatoes. “You did good, Owen. Real good.” Then he left.

  ***

  It was about time Jenny’s brothers stopped their harassment, Owen thought as they took in the bright, shiny deputy badge that Sheriff Meyer returned to him. Owen’s chest puffed up with a sense of pride as he closed the door of the jailhouse and placed his hat on his head.

  “Afternoon, gentlemen,” he said and buttoned his coat. “Getting ready for Christmas?”

  “We had some errands to run,” Tom replied. “Even if women say they don’t want anything but our love, they don’t mean it.”

  Joel snickered. “And you had to learn that the hard way.”

  Tom’s face grew red. “I can’t wait until you get married, Joel. I don’t care what you argue about. I’ll take her side each time.”

  “Unlike you all, I have no desire to tie the knot,” he replied and gave them a smug smile. “I’m going to stay single forever.”

  “Since when?”

  “Since I saw how you all ended up. No woman is going to tell me what to do.”

  “Oh really?” Dave asked. “Then what are you doing in town looking for gifts?”

  Joel sighed. “I got to give a gift for Ma.” When he saw their amused expressions, he said, “But Ma doesn’t count.”

  “She’s a woman,” Richard dryly pointed out.

  “Not a womanly woman. She’s just...Ma.”

  “I wonder what she’d think if she heard that,” Tom mused.

  “She won’t mind.” Joel shrugged and kicked at a rock on the boardwalk. “She loves me no matter what.”

  The brothers rolled their eyes but turned their attention back to Owen.

  “So anyway,” Richard began, “while we were in town, we thought we’d apologize. You know, for hounding you and all.”

  “Yeah,” Tom added. “Guess we were wrong about you.”

  Owen placed his hand on the butt of his gun that was resting in the holster. “Just remember that. I’m on the right side of the law now.”

  Tom’s gaze flickered to the Colt .45. “Well, you weren’t the deputy when we came after you, so that time doesn’t count.”

  “And then you were ready to write my obituary,” Owen reminded him.

  The four men stood silent, as if trying to determine just what, exactly, Owen was going to do.

  Deciding that he’d messed with them long enough, Owen chuckled and twirled the gun in his hand.

  They ducked.

  He laughed harder and placed the gun back in the holster. “You’re all too easy. It’s alright. I forgive you.”

  The door behind him opened and Irving stepped out.

  “Leaving already?” Owen asked, noting his travel bag.

  Irving nodded. “Texas needs a lawman who’s dedicated to his job. I hear it can be rough out in that area. I hope that’s true.”

  After Irving complained that catching Big Roy and the others weren’t challenging enough, Owen wasn’t surprised that he started looking for other places to go to. “Hope those outlaws down there keep you on your toes.”

  “Nice meeting you, Owen.” He shook Owen’s hand before he tipped his hat to the four brothers who moved out of his way.

  Owen waited until Irving was out of hearing distance and said, “Yep. Way too easy to scare you all. But all the same, I look forward to seeing you at the family gathering on Christmas day. Right now, I have to pick up my aunt from the train station.”

  “The one you got the money for?” Richard asked.

  “That’s th
e only one I got.”

  “You know, it was nice of you to do that,” Dave said.

  “Pretty brave too,” Tom added. “I mean, I saw Big Roy. He’s not the kind I’d want to go up against.”

  “I’ll agree with Tom on this one,” Joel replied.

  Richard smiled. “Well, we think Jenny’s lucky to have you. A man who’d go against the likes of Big Roy for those he loves is alright with us.”

  Pleased, Owen said his thanks. He then left them and hopped on over to pick up his aunt. The train pulled into the station just as he arrived. Though it hadn’t been more than three months since he last saw Rachel, it seemed like a year.

  She pulled him in for one of her bear hugs. “You’re a sight for sore eyes.”

  “How are you doing?”

  She patted him on the back twice before she let him go. “Good because of you.”

  “So everything’s alright down in the bayou?”

  “Yes. It was still a foolish thing you did. I heard all these rumors about you killing a man, but I knew you wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

  “I explained it all in my letter.”

  “You sure did. Said you have a wife, a son, and a young’n on the way?”

  “Yep.” He collected her travel bag and took her by the arm. “Jenny’s making a big meal for you. She wanted to come, but she’s still fighting off nausea from expecting.”

  “Poor thing. Well, I got just the thing to help with that. You know we use lots of spices in our cooking down south. I have a feeling she’ll like ginger.”

  He smiled. “She’s a great girl. I think you’ll like her, and that boy of hers is going to be a fine fisherman if I have anything to say about it.”

  She chuckled as they left the train station. “I have no doubt both are fine.”

  He led her to his buggy and took her home. A new layer of snow covered the ground, giving it a special wintery feel. He couldn’t have asked for a better welcome for his aunt than this. He set the brake and helped his aunt out of the buggy before he grabbed her bag.

  She shivered. “How do you handle this cold?”

  “You get used to it.” Especially when one had a nice warm body in bed to hold, but he figured some things were best left unsaid. “Are you sure you don’t want to move up here?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Now I know you aren’t right in the head. You bring me up here when it’s cold and ask that?”

  He shrugged. “It’s just nice having you here.”

  She grinned and patted him on the shoulder. “I have enough money to come visit when the mood strikes. Next time I’m coming in the summer though.”

  Chuckling, he opened the front door. The smell of pine cone coming from the wreath Jenny made permeated the room. The Christmas tree in the corner of the parlor and lit fireplace gave the whole house a festive feel. Owen found he enjoyed the season a lot more with Jenny there to decorate the place. He recalled his little shack along the bayou and didn’t miss it a single bit.

  “Pa!” Jeremy came running from the parlor and jumped into Owen’s arms.

  “Hey there, squirt.” He hugged the boy. “This is Aunt Rachel.”

  “I’m five,” he told her.

  “That’s true,” Owen replied. “He had a birthday last week.”

  “We’ll have to do something special while I’m here,” she told the boy. “Are you keeping my nephew here out of trouble?”

  “Oh yes, ma’am. He hasn’t had any falls since Aunt Sally and Uncle Rick were here.”

  She glanced at Owen. “You had a fall?”

  “It was nothing. I’ll tell you about it later.” He set the boy down. “Where’s your ma?”

  “Right here.” Jenny laughed as she came down the steps. “You must be Owen’s aunt.”

  Rachel nodded. “That’s what my brother told me when Owen was born.” His aunt nudged him in the side. “You got yourself a looker.”

  “Why do you think I married her?” he whispered.

  “Are you talking about me?” Jenny asked.

  “I’m always talking about how great you are, honey.” He waited until she reached him before he kissed her. “I was just saying you’re a real beauty.”

  She blushed a pretty shade of pink. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Rachel. I do hope you’ll enjoy your visit.”

  “I have no doubt I will.” Rachel gave her a big hug. “I hear you’re expecting a little Owen.”

  “In August.”

  Rachel looked at Jeremy. “And how do you feel about being a big brother?”

  “Good,” Jeremy said. “I have lots of things to teach him.”

  “I see you’re having a boy.” Rachel glanced between Owen and Jenny and winked.

  “Well, come on into the parlor and make yourself at home.” Jenny helped his aunt out of her coat. “Supper will be ready in an hour.”

  “I’ll get the horses put away for the night,” Owen said.

  “Can I help?” Jeremy asked.

  “Sure.” He took Jeremy’s coat, hat, and mittens off the hooks by the door and waited until Jeremy put them on.

  “Don’t get into another snowball fight,” Jenny called out as Owen opened the door. She looked at Rachel. “Those two can stay out there for hours if I let them.”

  Rachel chuckled.

  “We’ll be good this time,” Owen said.

  Jeremy bent down, grabbed some snow off the porch and threw it at Owen.

  In retaliation, Owen collected enough snow to make a snowball and glanced at Jenny. “Uh...it’s just this one snowball. I promise.”

  Another snowball landed on his back.

  Jenny sighed, even as a flicker of amusement crossed her face. “I’ll call you in when supper’s ready.”

  “Deal.” He closed the door and got ready to throw his snowball at the laughing boy.

  Epilogue

  And so that is how Owen Russell ended up in Omaha, Nebraska. They say some men are born for greatness, some choose greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. For Owen, he was shoved headlong into it. But he managed quite well and soon earned himself a good reputation as the deputy, though he never did match up to Irving’s level of fame.

  Irving was very happy in Texas where there were enough outlaws to keep him busy doing what he did best.

  In August, Jenny gave birth to another blond-haired boy, and after much debate, she finally settled on naming him Carl. A proud Owen and Jeremy promised to make him one of the best fishermen in Omaha.

  Last, but not least, Joel did find himself married despite all his efforts to avoid what he deemed “a most terrible fate”. But that is another story for another day...

  Joel Larson’s story will be in the book

  Shotgun Groom

  Coming 2011