Grace nodded and left the room with Clay on her heels. “Where are you going?” Grace asked. “I plan to sit right outside the door until you’re finished, so you feel safe. I’m not letting you out of my sight until Wade knows harming you will only make his life worse.”
Grace kissed him before slipping into her room for clean clothes and then closing the door to the bathing room behind her leaving a grateful Clay sitting on the floor just outside the door as he promised.
After finishing supper, Clay hurried out to do evening chores assuring Grace he’d be back as quickly as he could. The women cleaned the kitchen and grandpa retired to his room to read his Bible. When Clay returned, the thankful family settled in for the night.
Clay smiled at his blushing wife when he closed their bedroom door. “Don’t worry, Grace. We may share a bed tonight, but I’ll sleep on top of the quilt while you sleep under it. We’ll know when we’re ready.”
“Thank you,” Grace answered kissing him sweetly.
Clay and Grace slept peacefully until the first rays of sun woke them.
Chapter Twenty-one
Cora was humming in the kitchen preparing breakfast when she heard a knock at the door. Drying her hands on a towel, she opened the door to find the sheriff standing there.
“Please come in Sheriff Glyson.”
“Hugh, please, we’ve known each other long enough, Cora,” he smiled while removing his hat.
“Hugh, please sit. I have fresh coffee.”
Cora placed a cup of coffee in front of the sheriff as he took a chair at the table. “Is the family around, I have some information and questions.”
“Oh, mercy, I should have told you as soon as I saw you. Grace is home. She’s safe and has a story to tell. Would you like some breakfast while I wake them?” Cora explained.
“I ate before riding out, but I’d love to hear the story.”
Elizabeth walked into the kitchen greeting Cora and the sheriff.
“Good morning, Missus Hutchison,” the sheriff greeted.
“Please, call me Elizabeth. I won’t be a Hutchison for long,” Elizabeth explained.
The sheriff raised his eyebrows and Cora said, “Clay and Hutch will explain. You’ll understand better once you hear the entire story. Let me see if Hutch is awake.”
Elizabeth and the sheriff chatted about the weather and how she enjoyed ranch life while Cora roused Clay and Grace and checked on Grandpa Hutch. Clay hurried into the kitchen and sat across from the sheriff.
Clay began to explain the abduction, what led up to it, and how Grace escaped. He also did his best to get the sheriff to agree not to arrest Wade against the sheriff’s insistence that Wade pay for his crime. Clay promised that his grandpa would force Wade to leave the state for Montana if he ever wants to inherit any part of the ranch.
Grace wandered into the kitchen sitting next to Clay and was adamant about not testifying against her brother-in-law. “I told the family last night that I can’t be part of any trial that could end with a chance of Wade’s death. I won’t do it. Please, sheriff, understand my convictions. Taking a life is wrong, and I won’t be a party to it.”
The sheriff finally agreed but added, “Wade is staying in town with Lucinda. I spread the word last night for people to look for Grace. Your grandpa needs to force Wade to leave town, but not until I put the fear of the law into him. I will return to town and threaten to arrest him as soon as I get enough information. He’ll run home, and I expect Hutch to assure that Wade is on the next train out of Cheyenne heading north.”
“I can do that,” Grandpa Hutch said as he walked into the kitchen. “Morning Hugh, just scare that boy good, and he’ll run home. I’ll get him out of town. As a matter of fact, I’ll ride back to town with you and send a telegram to my brother in Montana. Wade won’t have a choice.”
“That’s a good idea, but first you sit and eat breakfast,” Cora insisted. “I’ll not have you getting sick again. This plan can wait a few minutes.”
Another knock at the door interrupted their conversation. Grace opened the door, and Mason stammered, “Grace you’re back? How? When?”
“Yes, I am. Last night. Come on it,” Grace held the door open for Mason to enter.
“I can’t believe you’re here. I was just coming over to ask Clay where he wanted to search today. Several of pa’s men said they’d search with us,” Mason explained not being able to hide his smile.
“Sit down and have some coffee and we’ll tell you about it,” Grace offered.
As Mason sat, the sheriff stood and said he needed to get back to town. Wolfing down the last of his eggs, Grandpa Hutch stood and joined him. As the two old friends rode into town, Clay explained to Mason everything that had happened with a few details added by Grace.
~ * ~
Grandpa Hutch stopped at the telegraph office, and the sheriff continued down to the saloon. He walked in and asked the sleepy bartender if Wade was upstairs. The bartender nodded, “Room 3.”
Sheriff Glyson walked up the stairs and down the narrow hall to Room 3. He pounded on the door until Lucinda opened it. “Sheriff, what on earth? You’ll wake the whole place.”
“Is Wade here.”
“Sure,” Lucinda answered and stepped away from the door.
The sheriff drew his revolver and stepped into the room. “Wade Hutchison,” he hollered. “Wake up.” When Wade didn’t move, the sheriff kicked the bed.
“What the…,” Wade started to say when he found himself staring down the barrel of the sheriff’s gun.
