Cole's Redemption (Love Amongst the Pines) (27 page)

             
Somehow, Miriam knew that Cole's life was in danger. If she didn't act quickly, disaster would overtake them all. Gathering her shawl and leaving a short note for
Melly
, Miriam set out for Judge's camp.

             
Though the sun had just begun its ascent into the day, there was still
an early
morning dimness to the world. A few storm clouds gathered to the east, perhaps a portent of an early winter. Miriam shivered and pulled her wrap tighter.

             
"Please, God," she prayed her daily litany for he son, "let him be all right."

             
The wind picked up, blowing behind her and wrapping her skirt about her legs, as if nature itself was doing it's best to push her along quicker.

             
In less than half an hour, Miriam had reached the edge of town, and she could see the new frame house coming into view. She relaxed slightly when she saw the single horse that was stood in the front yard grazing contentedly.

             
"Judge," Miriam called as she hurried up the front walk. "Judge, are you in there?"

             
Knocking on the door, she listened as shuffling noises came closer to the entrance.

             
"Mrs.
Remmington
? Are you all right? What's wrong?"

             
Judge opened the door. He'd been up already, his face half covered in shaving cream. Curious, he searched her face.

             
"Judge, I apologize for bothering you so early, but I've spent a very worrisome night, and I can't stand it any longer."

             
He quickly toweled off the remainder of the lather. "What's the matter? Are you sick?"

             
"No, it isn't me. It's Cole and Natty. I don't know how I know it, but something is wrong. I can tell. I know you must think me a silly fool, but I've lain awake all night thinking about it. Would you mind taking me up to the mine so I can make sure they're all right?"

             
"No, of course not. But, don't worry too much. Dermott left before first light. Something about knowing where some ammunition was hidden. Just the same, I'll get my shirt, and we'll ride out."

             
Miriam finally relaxed enough to take a deep breath. "Thank, God."

             
Cole watched them go. For a spare few seconds, he did nothing until his wife and her uncle were out of sight. Then he turned back around deciding what needed to be done. Quickly grabbing the rope that had been meant for his hanging, he tied Jonas about the wrists and ankles. That done; Cole then pulled him inside the cabin. Next, he returned for Greene.

             
"What you got planned, boy?" Greene's voice rumbled as Cole checked his wounds.

             
"I'm going to get you inside where you'll be safe until help gets here."

             
The other man looked at him, quizzically.

             
"Why you so worried about my safety? I'd have thought that it'd suit you better if I was dead."

             
"I don't have any quarrel with you. You're just doing what you think is right." Cole slid his arms under Greene's shoulders.

             
"What I think is right? You killed three men in cold blood. You broke the law."

             
"Yes, sir, I did." Cole was breathing hard as he dragged the man across the threshold.

             
Pulling the door shut once they were inside, Cole quickly checked the window for signs of the Calvin brothers return.

             
"Why don't you just kill me now?"

             
"Despite what you might think, I had a reason for what I did. Those men needed to die. I know how it looks, but just the same, I'm not a murderer"

             
"But, you're not sorry for what you done?"

             
"No." Cole turned away from him then, trying to keep the emotion from his voice. "Those men needed killing. I did what I had to. Given the same choice, I'd do it again."

             
"That's why you'll hang for it."

             
"I know." A silence fell between them, and Cole was grateful for it. It gave him a chance to consider what would happen next. Likely, those two would come back and start shooting up the place. He looked over to where Jonas lay sprawled out across the floor on the other side of the room. Cole had taken his gun, but with is hands in splints, he couldn't very well pull a trigger. Deciding what must be done, he began untying the splints on his right hand.

             
"What are you doing now?" Greene called from across the room.

             
"I'm getting ready for a fight. No sense in leaving these on, when it won't matter about me getting the use of my hands back."

             
"You didn't think the law would come after you?"

             
"I knew you would come, eventually. I knew that Jared Greene was your son, and that you'd follow me to the ends of the world if you had to."

             
"I did that. From the moment I heard your name over a year ago, after you shot and killed that Dawson boy, I started searching. He was my second cousin's son, and I knew he'd been running with Jared. It was a pretty big story when they attacked and killed those people in Illinois. You didn't do real good covering your tracks, either. I found your Mother in Boston. First, I just figured you'd head back there. When she came looking for you, I just followed her right along. She led me right to you."

             
"She only hurried the process along. You would have found me sooner or later."

Greene turned towards his left side. Propping up on one elbow, his attention concentrating on Cole. "That girl out there said that she'd bought your sentence. What does that mean?"

             
"It means I was about to let the city of Whispering Pines do your job for you. I was headed to the gallows when she bought off my execution with her mother's gold wedding band. She gave away her most precious possession to save me."

             
"So, the whore brought you here to live?"

             
"She's not a whore. She's my wife," Cole stated bitterly. "She needed help to run her silver mine."

             
"How'd your hands get hurt?"

             
"I had no intentions of marrying her." Cole flexed his fingers. They were still very sore, and a little bit swollen, but movable. He'd at least be able to fire a gun. "The sheriff was afraid I might try to hurt Natty."

             
"
Gawd
Dammit!" Martin's voice yelled from outside. "Jonas, where in the hell are you?"

             
"It looks like your friends are back," Cole said.

             
"Come on Dapple!" Natty pushed the horse as best she could through the chilly stream. Not large enough to warrant a bridge, the creek was enough to slow down one woman and an injured man in a hurry.

             
"Take it easy, Nat. We don't want him to break a leg. If that happens, we'll never get there!" Dermott said groggily behind her. "Is it
gonna
be much longer? I'm feeling all fuzzy, Natalie. My stomach
ain't
settin
' so good, neither."

             
"It'll be all right, Dermott, just stay with me. I'll get you into town, and Miss
Melly
will take care of you."

             
"Aw, she's a sweet one,
ain't
she? Got the prettiest curls I've ever seen."

             
"Yes, she does. Just stay with me,
Derm
. I'll get you to there."

             
"Is Cole coming into town, too? I sure do like that boy. Got a bit of a stubborn streak, but he is a nice one. Do you think he'll start working on the mine, soon? I hope so.
Maddie
is so sure that there's some silver down there. If there is, I'm
gonna
buy her a pretty silk dress."

             
Natty couldn't hold back a sob. Remembering her mother was hard enough in the best of times. When a girl was riding with her beloved uncle on across a slippery stream with her husband holed up with a hanging lawman son-of-a-bitch, and two
blood-thirsty
murderers threatening to kill them, it was downright unbearable.

             
"It's going to be okay, Dermott. Just hold on. I'll get you into town, and then we'll save Cole and get back to the mine as soon as we can. I promise."

             
"You know, Natty, you should dress yourself up more. Your mama was a pretty woman, but when your hair's all combed, you make a right beautiful picture yourself. Maybe I'll
git
you a silk dress, too. Won't your Ma be pleased then?"

             
"Sure, Dermott," Natty nudged the horse with her knees. Finally, they'd cleared the water. One more stream about a mile and a half down the mountain then they'd be set to get to town. Natty prayed they would be in time.

             
"You may as well give
yerself
up," Martin called from outside. He was damned aggravated that his youngest brother had let them all down. "Jest
git
out here, and maybe we won't shoot you right away! There
ain't
no silver in that mine. It's just a damn whole in the ground. Now, I'm a mite upset with you, wrangler, but it'll go worse for you if you try and put up a fight."

             
No sound came from inside the cabin. "He's in there, I just know it," Marty muttered. "The horse is gone. There's a trail of blood out here and one leading to the door." Deacon said as he rounded the last corner of the building. "And, there
ain't
no other window or door back there. What are we
gonna
do?"

             
"My guess is that whore took off to get help. Go get your horse and go after her! Don't waste no time. Just get her back here. I'll do what I can to get that lawman and the wrangler to surrender. If nothing else, we'll just set the cabin on fire and smoke them out."

             
"Why don't you just do that now?"

             
"Somebody might see the smoke and come a
lookin
.' It's
better
we just wait. My guess is that bastard will come out when he sees we got his whore."

             
"I'll get her." Deacon turned and left the camp.

             
Marty smiled. Even his dumbass brother could outsmart that slip of a girl. Then, he'd enjoy watching the gunslinger squirm when they all took turns at her.

Cole gripped the gun as tightly as his injured hand would
allow. Sweat trickled down his neck and back. Through the tiny crack in the window, he watched the two men talking. After a few moments, the younger of the two left, walking down the path that led to town.

"Damn! He's going after Natty!"

"If she
ain't
halfway to Lead by now."

"Shut up. Natty won't desert us. She'll be back in no time." Greene laughed. "If that girl's got a lick of sense, she'll just
keep on riding. With an injured man, how far do you think she'll get?"

"
Natty's
a determined woman. She'll make it."

"She's trash,
Remmington
. Why don't you admit it? Look at this place! I've seen pigs live in better. I know her kind. Poor, desperate wretches so damaged they can't get a man the right way."

"Shut up." Cole took deep breaths. Letting the old man bait him wouldn't solve anything. "You don't even know her."

"I know enough about people. There's a reason she lives up here on this mountain. Like you, she
ain't
fit to be around real, honest people."

Cole clenched his jaw. "Like your son? A thief and a murderer?"

             
"My son just fell in with the wrong kind, is
all.
He loved his mother and father."

             
"If that's what you think," Cole stated.