Being told that Will was safe didn’t make sense with the way Jasper was acting. If Will was truly safe, he’d be in the room with them.
“Thanks to the sheriff’s words against him, and the discovery of the gun, Will is now wanted by the law. Father has arranged for him to be transferred into custody later today.” Jasper’s voice cracked slightly.
“He’s going to jail, Mary. He’ll stand trial for the robbery in Century City as well as for starting the fire at The Pink Petticoat.”
Mary stared at him. “But he didn’t start that fire! Rose and I did.”
“Yes, and you’ll keep quiet about your involvement. Will and I have agreed to take the blame.” Jasper coughed. “Actually, Will insists on taking the entire blame himself. Father is working on getting the top lawyers in the country to take Will’s case, but in the meantime, we’re to keep quiet about what happened. Once we’ve consulted with the lawyers, then we can tell our side of the story to the authorities.”
“But that’s lying.” Mary looked at him, incredulous. “I can’t countenance such a thing. We didn’t mean to burn the place down. Surely they know it was an accident.”
A door creaked open, and Will stepped through. “Please, let me do this, Mary.”
“Will!” She couldn’t help herself. She ran to him and threw her arms around him. “I was so worried.”
As if it were a herculean effort, Will returned the gesture, holding her close to him. “You and your sister won’t survive in a jail cell. Especially not with the power Ben’s gang holds. I’ve talked with Mr. Jackson, and he believes we can find enough evidence to exonerate me, both of the fire and the robbery. But you have to be patient and do as I ask.”
His breath fanned her hair, and Mary didn’t want him to let her go. The safest Mary had felt in a long time was right here, in Will’s arms, and the thought of him going to jail for her, even temporarily, was unbearable.
“But what of Ben’s threats of a lynch mob?”
Will let her go and looked into her eyes. This man had never let her down, and as she looked at the light shining in his dark orbs, she knew she could trust him.
“The marshal is on our side. Between his men and the men Mr. Jackson hired, I’ll be perfectly safe. There’s still a chance that the jury will convict me, but we’ve already got people working to ensure I have a fair trial.”
Though she supposed Will meant to comfort her, it all seemed such an impossibility. Not with the kind of weight Ben carried in this region. He was the slickest of criminals, and he’d managed to evade being caught so many times.
“What about Ben?”
Will smiled. “He was found with a number of stolen gems in his possession when he escaped the fire. He’s got some explaining of his own to do.”
At least Ben was finally getting what was coming to him—as long as he didn’t wiggle his way out of it.
Still, at the hope shining in Will’s eyes, Mary had to trust that things would work out. After all, they’d come this far.
“Will, I have to tell you—”
“No.” His eyes took on an unfamiliar look. “I have some things I need to say first. The marshal’s men will be here any time now, and I have to go with them as soon as they arrive. I need to leave with a clean conscience.”
Go. Perhaps never to return. Those thoughts burned in Mary’s chest, even as she fought to cling to hope.
“I care for you, Mary. I’ve fought my feelings because I didn’t think it was right declaring myself to a woman when I had no honor to give her. But I’ve come to realize that honor isn’t about what others think of you, but of being right in the eyes of God. I had the chance to let Ben die, and I didn’t.”
Mary couldn’t imagine a more honorable man standing before her, even if he had allowed Ben to die. But she continued listening, giving him the chance to say what he needed to say.
“So I am declaring my love for you, Miss Mary Stone. I love you, and I hope someday to be able to give you my name. It may not be a name most people think of as being a good name, but I hope it will be good enough for you.”
Unbidden, tears streamed down her face.
“Of course it’s good enough for me. I’d be proud to carry your name and give you sons to carry on what is the noblest name I have ever known. I hadn’t dared hope to find a man I loved. I thought I owed it to my family to make up for what I’ve done by devoting my life to them. But I don’t need to serve any penance for sins the Lord has forgiven. I love you, too, Will.”
Will kissed her then, and as she melted into his arms, the sounds of the deputies coming to arrest him clanged in her ears. But Mary didn’t care. As her heart swelled with love for the man kissing her, and the peace of God settled around them, she knew that in the end, it would all work out according to God’s plan.
* * *
Several hours later, as Will sat in a Leadville jail cell, he wasn’t so sure that turning himself in had been the best idea. Colt had been locked in the cell next to him, and he was looking for a fight.
“You know we’ll both hang, Law-lost-his-badge.”
“I’m counting on the evidence to say otherwise.” Will turned his back and laid on the uncomfortable cot.
“I heard you saved Ben from the fire.”
Will grunted, then closed his eyes. Saving Ben wasn’t something he wanted to talk about. He’d made his peace on that issue with Mary and God, the only two people whose good opinions of him mattered.
“That was pretty stupid, considering
