toast… to the man asleep in the bedroom he had known since boyhood.
Two days later they laid Bill to rest at Muddy's side on the little knoll under the great oak tree. The day dawned gray, rainy and dismal. Despite Jen's presence at his side, Kirby had a feeling of dread, of foreboding. But as the silent procession left the ranch yard for the trip up the hill, the sun came out and a brisk wind wiped the ragged clouds out of the sky, leaving a brilliant blue in their place.
Kirby looked about him as the preacher finished his prayer and the first clods of earth fell. The hill was covered with people… practically all of Streeter and from far beyond. They were people who had known and loved Ma and Muddy and their sons. It was a tribute Kirby would never forget. Many of the men present had been hurt by the depredations of the rustlers, and Bill's part in the trouble, innocent though it had been, was a known quantity. But they stood now with bared heads and paid homage to a man they could respect, even admire, their presence proof that Bill's last acts had cleared his name. He had earned his rest beside the man and woman responsible for his brief and violent life.
Kirby was surprised to find that the buckboards, the surreys, the wagons and the many saddled horses did not leave once the funeral was over. He was even more surprised when Josh took his arm as if he were an invalid and led him to the room where Sheriff Peters, his wife, Doc Williams, and the minister were waiting. He stopped in amazement. Jen, her face scarlet, came quickly to his side.
'Maybe I shouldn't have done this, Kirby,' she said. 'I know the time isn't very fitting, but I'd like us to be married right now. I asked Doc Williams to bring out our license, the minister is here, and you've already told me you wanted me to have Ma's ring. We asked everyone to wait. They don't know why, so if you'd rather not…' She stopped in confusion, a blush creeping down her throat. 'You'll be riding to Galeyville, there'll be more trouble, and I want us…'
Kirby swept her into his arms. 'It was a wonderful thought. You've made me the happiest man on earth. Josh, would you get Ma's ring out of the office safe?'
Josh was grinning. 'I already did,' he said. He walked stiffly beside Kirby to a shady spot under the cottonwoods at the side of the house. Kirby knew all the men and women waiting, but he wondered how they would take a funeral and a wedding all on the same day. Somehow he felt they would understand. People in this sparsely settled section of the West were accustomed to taking advantage of opportunity when it offered itself. His thoughts were interrupted by the minister, who began, 'Dearly beloved, we are gathered here…'
Kirby awakened with a start the next morning, unable for a moment to shake off sleep, to understand something strange about his surroundings. Then he saw dark eyes dancing at his perplexed look, and everything fell into place. Will I ever get used to her being here? he wondered. 'Jen,' he asked softly, 'are you really here, or is this all a dream?'
'Will this answer your question?' she asked, and gave him her lips.
Sheriff Peters was sitting in the kitchen with Josh and Maria when they went in for breakfast. The two stood up when they entered, and Jen made them sit down. A look of relief crossed the foreman's countenance when he saw that Kirby's face was more relaxed than it had been for a long time. Wonderful what a woman's love can do for a man, he thought.
Kirby grinned at Josh, then said to his old friend: 'Doggone it, Lon, it looks like you don't mean to let a man get acquainted with his wife. I hadn't planned to do any riding today.'
'You been married as long as I have, you lose your recollection of things like that,' said the sheriff. Then, realizing what he had said, he continued hastily, 'Besides, I didn't mean to bother you. Me and some of the boys was over to Lazy B, and I stopped here for a cup of Maria's coffee. Stuff my old woman made this morning tasted like she'd washed the dog in it.'
Jen's eyes twinkled as she warned, 'Now, Lon!'
'Ye gods,' he sighed, 'I forgot you women was in cahoots. Me and my big mouth.' He looked so mournful they all laughed.
'I won't tell her if you make sure she invites us to Sunday dinner some night soon,' she promised.
'Saved!' He sighed. 'Young lady, you've made yourself a deal.'
Kirby waited, knowing Lon would sooner or later get around to the real purpose of his visit. He said, 'We finished up at Lazy B. Put that young outlaw on the meadow trail in a better place. Guess that winds up everything but Galeyville. Wanted to talk to you about that… kinda like to know how you want to handle it.'
'That's a big question, Lon,' Kirby answered. He sipped his coffee. 'I'd like to hear your thoughts on it.'
'I'm gettin' murder warrants for all those gents Bill and the outlaw named. We can make 'em stick, too. But that King feller, if he's head of the gang, is probably holding the mortgage Hub got for him on Lazy B. Puttin' him in jail ain't going to get that paper back. Decided maybe I'd better hold off until you had time to work on it.'
Kirby answered slowly, 'Appreciate that. Right now I don't have an answer. First of all I've got to see Burch at the bank and find out what he knows. There's some question in my mind about who really owns Lazy B now. Maybe Bill made a will. Don't know that I have any rights even if there wasn't any mortgage.'
Jen clapped her hands to her mouth. 'Oh, Kirby,' she moaned, 'I forgot to tell you.' She looked so concerned that her husband was alarmed.
'What's wrong? What did you forget?'
'I forgot to tell you that while Bill was waiting for you to come back from Lazy B the day it all happened, he made me write out a will. Said he was afraid to wait. Doc and Maria signed as witnesses, and he made Doc take the papers to the bank. I'm sorry, but everything has been so confused, I just forgot to tell you.'
'No harm done, honey,' Kirby assured her. 'One time is as good as another to find out. But it does make a difference. Guess it kind of puts it up to me to get that crooked paper if I want the old Wagon back together again.'
The sheriff agreed. 'Thought there might be something like that. Well, you won't need to do anything today, I guess, but you'd better make it soon. Can you look me up tomorrow? We don't want those birds at Galeyville to fly the coop.'
'I'll be there, Lon. Let me think about it a little more. Don't see how, but I might come up with an answer.'
'Hope so.' Peters sighed and got painfully to his feet. 'Thanks for the coffee, Maria.' He paused and studied the old woman. 'Might say you're real handy with a scattergun, too. Well, be seein' you.'
Josh left then to get neglected work rolling again, and Kirby asked his bride, 'Is there anything special you'd like to do today?'
Her eyes sparkled in anticipation. 'Let's go for a ride, just the two of us, some place we haven't been in a long time.'
'Good idea. Maybe it'll clear out some of the cobwebs.'
It was well past noon when they returned. Jen went in the house to change her riding clothes and Kirby to look for his foreman. Josh was watching Manuel breaking new broncs for their remuda. He looked up and nodded as Kirby jerked his head toward the barn. In a moment he joined his boss, his eyes curious.
'Josh,' said Kirby, after making sure that no one was within earshot, 'I've got a chore. Will you ride in to Streeter and draw ten thousand dollars from Burch at the bank? Tell him it's urgent. Tell him we hope to put it back in a day or so. If he doesn't have that much on hand, see that he gets it. We'll need it tonight.'
Josh stared in astonishment. 'That's a heap of money. Won't feel safe packin' it.'
'Take a couple of the boys to side you.'
'I'll do that. Mind if I ask, how come?'
Kirby told him. As he talked, the old man studied the toe of a scuffed boot and now and then wagged his head by way of affirmation. When Kirby finished, he thought for a long time.
'It might work, boy. But you're takin' a long chance. Could get you killed, you know.'
'I know, Josh, but it seems the only way. You better get going. Tell the two boys you pick what's going on.'
'Curly and Ringo again,' Josh agreed. 'I'll tell 'em on the way to town. They'd hate to miss it. I'll saddle up right now. Shouldn't take too long.'
Jen was standing before his dresser, brushing out her red-brown curls. Kirby entered so quietly that she was startled. Then with a little cry she came into his arms.
