“I’m sorry,” Amalie told Nate. “That still doesn’t explain why you’re here.”
“When I turned eighteen, my ma and pa caught a fever and passed. That left Deacon and me to take care of the ranch. I knew I wouldn’t be anything but a burden, so I left. Deacon searched and found me, but I refused to go back. I let him know when I settled here, in St. Louis, but I told him I’d never return,” Nate explained with slumped shoulders. “That was six years ago.”
“And now he wants you to return?”
“Yes. It was a part of the agreement to provide you with protection.”
Amalie smiled. “You’d do that for me?”
“Yeah. We’ve been friends for three years since you came to work here. I can’t let you go to Rex’s saloon as a…as a…well, you know.”
“I know, and I appreciate this, I really do. I’m just not sure if I should cause you all this trouble. If you don’t want to go home, and you shouldn’t have to just because of me,” Amalie stated.
“I don’t plan on staying. Once you’re safe and settled, I plan to head out and find a new place to live.”
“You shouldn’t do that. Your brother sounds as if he wants you to come home regardless of your leg. He must love you.”
“I’m sure he does, but I still don’t want to be a burden to anyone,” Nate insisted.
Amalie offered, “Why don’t you wait until we get to Wyoming to make up your mind?”
“Maybe, I will. I need to see the judge before he goes home for the evening and make the arrangements for tomorrow morning. Go pack, steer clear of Caldwell, and don’t say a word to anyone about our plans.”
“I won’t. If this works, I’ll be free of both Caldwell and Rex.”
“It’ll work. Between Deacon and Judge Evans, they’ll make sure it will,” Nate said as he hurried from the kitchen, leaving Amalie to wonder exactly what would occur in the morning.
Chapter Two
Amalie and Nate met with Judge Evans at nine o’clock the following morning.
“It’s good to see you again, Miss Brassel. My wife and daughter are here as witnesses. Do you have any questions about the proceedings, or should we get right to it?” inquired the kindly judge.
“We can start whenever you wish, sir,” Amalie responded.
Judge Evans made the introductions, asking Nate for the details.
“I have a telegram from my brother, Judge. He agrees, and a judge in Cheyenne has completed all the necessary paperwork there.”
“Excellent,” Judge Evans said. “Now, first, I need to fill out the paperwork. Amalie, do you have a middle name?”
“Yes, sir. It’s Mary.”
The judge looked at Nate and asked, “Does your brother have a middle name?”
“Yes, it’s James, Judge,” Nate answered.
“Deacon James Sperling…and his residence in Wyoming?”
Before Nate could respond, Judge Evans's daughter, Grace, exclaimed, “Deacon Sperling? Not Deke Sperling? Are they one and the same?”
Nate nodded.
“Oh, my goodness,” Grace gushed as she pulled a small book from her reticule. “Look here. I have one of the latest dime novels from the mercantile, and it’s about your brother: Deke Sperling, Bounty Hunter. I can’t believe you’re his brother, and Amalie is going to marry him. This is so romantic.”
Amalie paled. “Bounty hunter? You said he was a lawman.”
“No, I said he assists the law,” Nate defended.
The judge cleared his throat, “Grace, put the book away. We will discuss this at home later. We’re here to see this young lady married and protected.”
Grace nodded and slipped the book back into her reticule. “Sorry, Father.”
The judge shook his head and continued with a simple reciting of vows because he hadn’t felt the need to conduct anything fancy. Amalie signed the papers, and Nate signed for his brother.
“Congratulations, Amalie. You are now Missus Deke Sperling, with all the protection the name provides. Not even Rex would go up against Deke. Nate said the two of you are leaving on the noon train. The sheriff has assured me he will be there to make sure you are not harassed by anyone, although I doubt anyone would try.”
Amalie wrung her hands and asked, “What do I tell Mister Caldwell? He said I could be arrested if I tried to leave before my contract was fulfilled.”
The judge handed Amalie her marriage license. “This is your ticket out. As a married woman, the contract is no longer valid. You are under your husband’s protection, and any contract he didn’t sign can no longer be enforced. Show Caldwell the marriage license, and if he rips it up, assure him there is a copy here in my office. Nate will go with you to explain that both the sheriff and I are aware of the situation and your marriage, and if you are accosted for trying to leave town, he will be arrested.”
Amalie nodded and gave her sincere thanks while doing her best to smile. She was married to a bounty hunter and one that everyone evidently feared. What was she to do? She had to leave town, but to what end?
Nate escorted her out into the hall, and Grace followed them. She handed the dime novel to Amalie and said, “I can buy another. I think you should learn about the man you’ve married. He sounds wonderful. Good luck.” Grace rushed back into the office when she heard her father shout her name.
Amalie blew out a breath. “All
