this storm no one will even notice the shots.”
“Kill me!” Michael shouted with enough anger to rattle the windows. “Because if you don’t, I swear I’ll kill you if you harm her.”
Raymond must have found his power over them amusing. “Oh, so you’ve fallen in love with the family tramp. Did she tell you she’s already been with a man and she’s barely out of school?”
Cozette let out a yelp and Raymond turned his gun on her.
He smiled. “I’ve even heard the house rumor that you’re with child. What would your father say? He’d shoot you himself rather than let you disgrace this family.”
“It’s my child!” Michael shouted. “And she’s my wife. She’s had no other lover but me.”
Raymond pointed the gun at him. “Then you are a bigger fool than I, for she’s tricked you. I’ve had enough of you both. It’s time to—”
Something short and round barreled into Raymond like a freight train, knocking him off his feet.
The gun fired, clipping Michael in the shoulder as three men jumped on Raymond like hungry dogs on a fat rabbit.
Pain shot through Michael’s body as he watched his wife scream and rush toward him. He could hear his uncles pounding away on Raymond but nothing seemed real. All seemed part of a dream, even Cozette.
Then, all went quiet in his world. All went black and he circled in midnight water until he could see or hear nothing, not even his own heartbeat.
When he awoke, he was spread out on one of the couches along the wall and the doctor was smiling down at him.
“’Bout time you decided to wake up and join us. You’re a lucky man, son. The bullet hit only muscle and I dug it out without much trouble.”
Michael sat up slowly and looked around. “Where’s my wife?”
“She’ll be back in a minute. I made her go get dressed if she was going to insist on sitting with you. She told me she was in a family way and planned to stay close to you.”
“Raymond?” Michael asked.
“He’s on his way to town. Sheriff said he’ll have charges filed in the morning for attempted murder of you and the murder of a man named Fiddler. Seems Fiddler told my nurse one afternoon while she was with the old man and Fiddler was doing the records that if he ever showed up dead they should look in the books for the murderer. Your wife showed us where her uncle had been stealing for months. We may never know if Fiddler was part of the theft and just got scared or if he found out the truth and confronted Raymond. Don’t guess it matters much, he’s dead either way.”
Michael’s head pounded. It was over. Cozette was safe. She’d never be bothered again. He leaned back and rested until he heard her come in with his three uncles right behind her.
“How is he?” she asked the doctor as if Michael weren’t staring right at her.
“He’s fine. A good night’s rest and he can be back in the saddle tomorrow.” The doctor began packing up his bag.
“I’ll be heading out tomorrow,” Michael said. He’d keep his promise to her.
To his surprise anger flashed in her eyes and she stood. “You’re not walking out on me and the baby.”
All three uncles said, “Baby?” at the same time.
She nodded toward them. “That’s right. The doctor just confirmed I’m pregnant. Right?”
“Right,” the doctor mumbled, obviously trying to stay out of the argument.
Cozette stared down at Michael. “Am I or am I not your wife?”
“I’m not deaf, dear. Of course you’re my wife.”
“And is this your baby growing inside me?”
He stared at her remembering his wish. Remembering how he told her there was no time, no one before him. “It’s my baby.”
“Then, Michael, you are not going anywhere.” She whirled to the doctor. “You might not want to leave yet. I may have to shoot him in the leg to convince him to stay.”
To his surprise the uncles looked like they were on her side. They all stood behind her, their knuckles white and ready to beat him to a pulp.
“It ain’t right,” Uncle Moses said. “Getting her pregnant and talking of leaving. It ain’t right, Mickey.”
Cozette pulled a pistol from behind one of the pillows. “I may be a widow, but I don’t plan on being left.”
She pointed the gun at him and all three uncles folded their arms and waited.
“Don’t shoot.” He smiled. “I’ll stay, dear.”
“How long?” she asked without lowering the gun.
“Forever if you’ll