Defiant (27 page)

And they did.

Chapter Twenty-seven

One Month Later

Clint rode to the top of the hill and reined in to look down at the scene below. There before him lay the deserted ruins of his family’s ranch. Since the night of the attack, he hadn’t been able to think much about the Lazy W, but now it was time.

The Andersons had been good to him and his family over the years. While he’d been away, they’d been tending the stock and watching over things. Clint knew they’d be interested in buying the place, and he was ready to sell it to them for a fair price.

Clint planned to ride over and see them later that day after he’d met up with Captain Meyers at the Lazy W. It would be the first time they’d met face to face since he’d brought in the Tucker Gang.

Clint knew he was early for their meeting; he had planned it that way.

There was something he had to do while he was there at the ranch by himself.

Urging his horse on, Clint rode slowly down to the gravesite where his family and the ranch hands who’d been killed that night had been buried. He reined in nearby and dismounted, then walked slowly over to their graves. Deep, painful emotions filled him as he looked down at their markers.

Clint stopped before his father’s grave. His heart ached as he bowed his head for a long moment. He finally looked up at the grave marker that read “Frank Williams” and nodded.

“I brought them in for you,” he said aloud, wanting his father to know that he’d finished the job. “They went on trial, and the law took care of them. They’ve gone to meet their Maker.”

Clint felt some satisfaction knowing the killers had paid the price for their deadly crimes, but even so, nothing was ever going to bring his family back.

He stood there for a moment longer, staring down at his father’s marker, before moving on to stare down at his own.

Clint Williams
Born February 16, 1852
Died March 23, 1877

Clint knew that for all these months those words had been true. He had been dead inside—until Rachel had come to him and shown him that
life was worth living again. By the grace of her presence, he had been able to go on. He was going to continue to follow his father’s example and work hard to be the best Texas Ranger he could.

That was why he was there today.

Clint took down the marker that bore his name.

He was back among the living.

“Clint?”

He turned to find Captain Meyers walking toward him. Clint went to greet him, and they shook hands.

“It’s good to see you,” the captain told Clint, looking him over.

“It’s good to see you, too—especially under these circumstances.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t meet with you sooner, but I was finishing up a case.”

“That’s all right,” Clint said. “Everything has worked out just fine.”

“I’ll say. That was some good work you did, finding Pete Reynolds and bringing the whole Tucker Gang to justice.” Captain Meyers reached in his pocket and took out Clint’s Texas Ranger badge. He handed it to him. “It’s time you started wearing this again. You should never have given it to me in the first place.”

“It won’t happen again.”

“I’m counting on that,” he told him. “By the way, congratulations on your marriage.”

“Thanks. Rachel is the best thing that ever happened to me. She told me to thank you for the extra weeks I had off,” Clint said.

“You’re welcome. You earned it.”

“I warned her not to get used to it, though.”

“That’s right. We need you. You’re a good man, just like your father was.”

“Thanks, Captain.” Clint knew there was no higher compliment Meyers could have given him. Solemnly, Clint pinned his badge on his shirt.

Captain Meyers watched him and was glad to have him fully back with the Rangers.

“I see you took down the grave marker,” he said, gesturing toward the place where Clint’s false grave had been.

“Yes, I’m back among the living.”

“Good, because I’ve got a new assignment for you.”

The two Texas Rangers looked at each other and smiled as they started back to where they’d left their horses.

Epilogue

One Year Later

It was a beautiful day for a wedding. The church was crowded with guests. As the music began, the bride started down the aisle escorted by her father.

Nick stood with Reverend Hammond in front of the altar, watching Michelle make her way toward them. She was a vision of beauty in her white gown and veil, and Nick was thrilled that this day had finally come. Soon, very soon, she would be Mrs. Nick Evans.

Michelle’s heart was racing as she clung to her father’s supportive arm on their way up the aisle.

Today her dream was coming true.

Today she and Nick were getting married.

She looked up at Nick, standing so tall and handsome beside Reverend Hammond, and she knew he was the love of her life.

As she passed by the pew where Rachel was
sitting with Clint and her mother, she cast her friend a quick sidelong smile.

Rachel smiled back up at Michelle, truly thrilled for her friend on her wedding day. She had always expected to be Michelle’s matron of honor, but her current delicate condition had kept that from happening. Rachel rested a loving hand on the mound of her stomach. It wouldn’t be long now until her son or daughter was born. Rachel looked up at Clint and knew she loved him even more now than she had before—if that were possible.

Rachel turned her full attention back to the wedding. She watched with joy as Mr. Lofton lifted Michelle’s veil and then kissed her on the cheek before handing her over into Nick’s safekeeping.

“Take care of my daughter,” he told Nick.

“I will, sir.”

Mr. Lofton joined his wife in the first pew as the ceremony began.

Martin smiled down at the happy couple standing before him. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join in holy matrimony Michelle Lofton and Nicholas Evans.”

Clint looked on as Nick and Michelle pledged their love and devotion to one another. He hoped their life together would be as wonderful as his own was with Rachel. At the thought, he took Rachel’s hand in his. He would always be saddened that they hadn’t been able to have a proper church wedding like this one. Still, he wouldn’t have changed anything about their marriage. Everything had worked out just fine, and now
with the baby due at any minute, he knew things would only get better.

“Do you, Michelle Lofton, take this man Nicholas Evans to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, until death do you part?”

“I do,” Michelle answered with no hesitation.

“And do you, Nicholas Evans, take this woman Michelle Lofton to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, until death do you part?”

“I do,” Nick answered him.

“You may place the ring on her finger,” Reverend Hammond directed.

Nick did just that, marking Michelle as his own forever.

“I now pronounce you man and wife,” the reverend concluded, giving them a warm smile. “You may kiss your bride.”

Nick didn’t need to be told twice. With everyone looking on, he took Michelle into his arms and kissed her.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, may I introduce to you—Mr. and Mrs. Nick Evans,” the reverend announced.

Everyone was thrilled for them.

Michelle’s mother was openly crying for joy in the front pew, knowing her daughter was going to live happily ever after with Nick, just as she had with her own beloved husband.

The music began again, and Nick and Michelle made their way down the aisle to start their life together as man and wife.

Clint and Rachel watched them pass, knowing they were perfect for each other.

“Have you ever regretted that we didn’t have a big church wedding?” Clint asked as they slowly made their way out of the church.

Rachel looked up at him with a look of tenderness in her eyes. “It would have been nice, but, really, all that mattered was that we were together.”

“So you don’t think you missed out on anything, getting married the way we did?”

She gave him a teasing half smile as she answered for his ears only, “We had a wonderful wedding night—thanks to Michelle. What more did we need?”

At her words, Clint grinned down at her, remembering that exciting night. “You’re right. It was wonderful.”

They followed the crowd to the wedding reception in the church hall next door. The food was wonderful and the celebration was joyous.

When it came time for the bride and groom to dance together, Nick escorted his wife out to the center of the dance floor and took her in his arms.

“I love you,” Michelle said breathlessly as she gazed up at her handsome husband.

Nick gave her a quick, soft kiss as they kept dancing. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time.”

“Me, too. This is my dream come true—being married to you.”

Nick squired Michelle around the dance floor, thankful that he’d been blessed enough to have her come into his life.

When it was announced that other couples could join them on the dance floor, Clint looked over at Rachel.

“Shall we?” he invited, holding his hand out to her.

“I’d love to,” she accepted. She wasn’t about to miss out on the chance to dance at her best friend’s wedding.

They had only been moving about the dance floor for a moment when Rachel felt the first pang. She frowned slightly, wondering at it. When it didn’t happen again right away, she dismissed the feeling as just a normal ache or pain from her condition.

The dance ended, and they made their way back to the table to sit down. Clint left her there while he went to get them something to drink.

Rachel was talking with her mother when the pain returned, and her mother noticed the sudden change in her expression.

“Rachel, what is it?” Anne asked worriedly.

Rachel tried to smile, but it turned into more of a grimace as she put a hand on her stomach and answered, “I’m not sure, but I think it may be time.”

“Oh, dear, we’d better get you home right away.”

“I think you might be right.”

Anne took charge. When Clint returned to the table with their drinks, she told him, “We need to leave.”

“Why?”

“Your son or daughter is getting ready to make an appearance.”

Clint had known the moment would come, but he was both shocked and delighted that it was going to be tonight. He took Rachel’s arm. “Let me help you.”

They exited the reception quietly, not wanting to detract from Michelle and Nick’s big celebration.

Rachel was relieved when she was finally back home. Anne helped her into the bedroom and made sure she was comfortable before going to speak to her husband and Clint.

“Clint, you should go find the doctor and see how soon he can get here to help me. Martin, you just start praying that everything goes well.”

The men did as they were ordered.

Clint returned with the doctor a short time later and then joined his father-in-law in the parlor to wait it out.

“I guess there’s nothing we can do to help, is there?” he asked, pacing nervously around the room.

Martin smiled sympathetically. He remembered the night Rachel was born and understood his son-in-law’s unease. “Sometimes waiting around is the hardest part, but what you’re waiting for is more precious than any treasure you’ve ever known.”

Clint knew Martin was right. He forced himself to stay calm and bide his time. He just hoped Rachel would be all right. Several times he heard her cry out in pain, and he started to go to her, only to be held back by his father-in-law.

Time passed slowly. It was in the late hours of the night that they finally heard the door open upstairs and footsteps coming down the hall.

Clint and Martin hurried to the door of the parlor to see the doctor descending the steps.

“How is Rachel?” Clint demanded.

“She’s fine,” the doctor answered, and then added, “And so is your son. Congratulations, Clint. It’s a boy!”

“A boy—”

“That’s right. Go on up. Rachel’s asking for you.”

Clint rushed upstairs.

Anne was just coming out of the bedroom as Clint reached the door. She didn’t speak. She just smiled at him and held the door wide for him to go in. She closed it behind her as she left to give the new parents privacy.

Clint stood just inside the bedroom door, staring at Rachel as she lay in bed holding the baby.

“He’s perfect, Clint,” Rachel said, smiling up at him.

He moved to the bedside and knelt down to get his first look at his son. The chubby newborn with just a sprinkling of dark hair was resting quietly in his mother’s arms.

“You’re right. He is perfect,” he said, awed by
the miracle before him. He lifted his gaze to look at Rachel. “And so are you. I love you.”

Clint leaned over and kissed her.

“I love you, too.” She smiled, then asked, “What are we going to name him?”

Not knowing if the baby was going to be a girl or a boy, they had never settled on a name ahead of time.

“I’d like to name him Frank, after my father,” he answered solemnly. He could think of no better way to honor his father’s memory.

Rachel gazed down at her son and said his name aloud for the first time. “Frank Williams.”

At the sound of her voice, the infant opened his eyes to look up at her. Rachel bent down to press a gentle kiss on his cheek.

“Thank you for my son,” she told Clint with heartfelt emotion.

Clint tenderly kissed Rachel. She was all that was beautiful in his life, and he was going to spend the rest of his days showing her and their son just how much he loved them.