The Bargain Mail Order Bride Read online

  She looked up from her hands, swallowing back the tears that threatened to fill her eyes. “I can only imagine what our parents would think if they were here right now. This isn’t what they wanted for any of us. It’s not how we were raised.”

  “I know,” Tim whispered.

  Then, since there didn’t seem to be anything else to say, the three grew silent, each lost in their own thoughts.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  The next morning, Carl was kneeling in the stream, swirling the water in the pay dirt, desperate to find any more flakes that were in the pan. But once again, he couldn’t find more than one small gold flake. He slammed the pan in the stream. He’d been panning ever since he made the deal with Eric, only stopping for a few hours to get some sleep, but he wasn’t any closer to getting the amount of gold he needed to get Juliet out of jail than he had been when he started.

  One small flake here and another small flake there weren’t enough. He needed a lot of flakes. He needed actual nuggets. He needed the amount he and Juliet had been finding only a couple of weeks ago. But that kind of gold was gone. There was no more left.

  A sob rose up in his throat, and he finally broke down and cried the tears he’d been holding back for the past day. He hadn’t cried since the day his mother died. That day the one person who actually cared for him was taken away. And now he was going to lose Juliet, too.

  He slammed the pan several more times into the stream, striking it against one of the larger rocks until it cracked. Throwing the pan aside, he collapsed and put his face in his hands.

  He should have been careful in November when he came down here to pan for gold. He should have put in less pay dirt into the bucket. He should have walked up the path with the wheelbarrow slower. Then he wouldn’t have tripped and broken his leg. Then he could have kept on panning for gold all through the month.

  If he’d only been able to pan for gold those two extra weeks, he would have hit the large bulk of gold before the spring. And if he had been able to do that, he and Juliet would have been long gone by the time her brothers caught up to her. And right now, Juliet would be safe with him instead of stuck in a jail cell waiting for the judge to arrive.

  Five hundred and thirty-seven dollars. Compared to the $24,463 he and Juliet found, it seemed like such a small amount, and yet, it was the amount that was going to keep her away from him. And there was nothing—absolutely nothing—he could do about it.

  A twig snapped behind him. He spun around, nearly slipping in the stream as he did so. He blinked through his tears and saw that Abe was coming over to him.

  “I only want to use the stream to find gold so I can get Juliet out of jail,” Carl told him as he wiped away his tears, barely noticing the dirt that was on his hands. “I wasn’t trying to steal the stream from you.”

  “I know,” Abe replied, his voice soft. “Caroline told Phoebe what happened to her.”

  Despite his best efforts, Carl felt more tears fill his eyes. “I can’t get it.” He picked up the broken pan and threw it into the grass. “There’s not enough left. She’s going away, and there’s nothing I can do about it.” His voice broke, and the tears fell down his face again. “I don’t have anything I can sell. The tickets for the stagecoach were all I had. And I can’t work for it. Do you realize people make about $10 a week around here?” He sniffed and wiped his face again. “I can’t do anything.” Shoulders slumped, he trudged out of the stream. “It’s all yours, Abe. I won’t come back here. You don’t have to worry about me anymore.”

  “Carl,” Abe said as Carl grabbed the broken pan, “this isn’t necessary.” When Carl was ready to leave, Abe took him by the arm and stopped him. “Carl, wait.”

  Carl swallowed back his tears and turned to face him.

  “The stream doesn’t matter,” Abe said. “Not when it comes down to all of this. I came here because there’s a cave up there.” He gestured to the north of them. “Gene used to hide out there from time to time, and in that cave, I found some gold he was hiding.”

  “You have gold?”

  “It’s not a lot, but it might be enough to get Juliet out of jail. No one owns that property up there, and when I checked on it today, the gold was still there.”

  Carl glanced up the hill again then studied Abe. “Why would you do this for me?”

  “You’ve learned that there are more important things than gold. You could have used the money you already have and left town, but you didn’t. You’re doing all of this,” he motioned to the stream, “because you love Juliet, and that’s something I can respect you for.”

  Carl sniffed again, but this time, he wasn’t struck with the urge to keep crying. Now, he had hope. Hope that he could finally redeem the most important person in his life. “Thank you, Abe.”

  Abe smiled and patted his shoulder. “Come. I’ll show you where the cave is.”

  ***

  It was mid-afternoon when Eric announced that the judge was in town. “He’ll get settled into Daniel’s house, and then I’ll bring him here so he can hear your case.”

  After that, Eric left the jailhouse, leaving Juliet alone with her brothers.

  Juliet stood by the bars of her cell, which was the only way she could look out the window. She kept hoping she’d have one more chance to see Carl before the judge took her and her brothers away, but she hadn’t seen him since the day her brothers turned her in.

  Maybe it was just as well that she didn’t see him again. Maybe making a clean break was for the best. She honestly didn’t think she could say good-bye without losing what little control she’d been able to maintain during this whole ordeal. She rested her head against the bars and closed her eyes.

  “Thanks a lot, Juliet,” Sammy called out from the cell he shared with Tim and Micah.

  She opened her eyes and looked at him. She knew he was baiting her, but she was too drained to care.

  “It’s because of you we’re here,” Sammy said, his tone sharp.

  “Leave her alone,” Tim snapped.

  “When are you going to realize we’re all here because of her?” Sammy asked.

  “No,” Tim replied. “We’re here because we all decided to steal other people’s money. All of us have our share in this.”

  “I’ve had enough of all this arguing,” Micah spoke up for the first time since Sammy had gone into their cell. “What good does any of it do? It doesn’t change anything.”

  “And what do you suggest we do?” Sammy asked. “Sing songs and act like everything’s fine?”

  “No,” Micah said, “but we don’t need to keep picking at each other. We all did something wrong. The best thing we can do is deal with it and hope the judge doesn’t go too hard on us.”

  Sammy shook his head but didn’t reply.

  Since the argument was settled at the moment, Juliet turned her gaze back to the window.

  ***

  In Daniel’s house, the judge sat back in the rocking chair, his eyebrows furrowed. Eric had asked Daniel’s wife if she would leave them alone so they could talk without anyone listening to their conversation, and as he explained the situation with Carl and Juliet, he wasn’t sure if his argument was convincing enough to prompt the judge to free her.

  “I know it’s an unusual request,” Eric added when he noticed the judge’s frown deepen. “But I’ve known Carl for years. He’s never had anyone who cares about him the way Juliet does. He’s willing to pay her bounty in order to keep her out of jail, and she did cooperate with me when I asked her questions.”

  “What you’re asking is very unusual,” the judge slowly replied.

  “I wouldn’t be asking if I believed Juliet voluntarily did those crimes. There’s no doubt in my mind that Sammy forced her to do them.”

  “You might be a little too trusting, Eric.”

  “Living here, I got to know everyone, and since it is a small town, I got to know them pretty well.”

  The judge rocked back and forth in the chair for several se
conds as he weighed Eric’s words. “And you’re sure Juliet’s done stealing?”

  “I think she was done the day she defied her brothers by returning the money they’d just stolen from a man whose wife needed surgery.”

  “Well, I admit that is commendable,” the judge allowed, “but it doesn’t make up for the other eleven people she helped her brothers steal from.”

  “Which is why Carl offered to pay her bounty.” Eric could tell the judge was finally starting to concede, so he continued, “I realize this is an unusual situation. If we were back East, this wouldn’t be possible, but we’re in rugged territory out here. Men have done a lot worse and gotten away with it.” When the judge opened his mouth, probably ready to tell Eric that no one should get away with anything, Eric added, “I’m not saying the law isn’t important. It is. But I’m also learning that there are times when the law doesn’t have to be followed to the exact detail. I honestly believe this is one of those times.”

  “I remember the man who was a sheriff before you came along. He would pardon any criminal activity if it benefited him. The corruption was what motivated me to send for you.”

  Eric wasn’t sure what to make of the comment. Was the judge implying that he was somehow being corrupt by asking for Juliet to go free?

  “I’ll tell you what,” the judge began, “under the law, marriage creates a union between a man and wife in which they become one person. That person, of course, would be the husband since he is the head of the wife. As a married woman, all of Juliet’s burdens have transferred to him. We could say the crimes she committed prior to marriage are among those burdens. Therefore, if Carl is able and willing to pay her bounty, then he can clear the debt on her behalf.”

  It was the perfect solution. Eric had worried Juliet’s brothers would protest that she shouldn’t be able to go free when she had committed the thefts right along with them. However, by using the judge’s argument, they could ensure her brothers served their time in jail while allowing Carl the ability to redeem her.

  Excited, he thanked the judge and left the house.

  ***

  Eric entered the jailhouse, and Juliet braced herself for what he had to say. Tim and Micah, apparently also anxious about what was going to happen, went over to the bars of their cell.

  “What did the judge say?” Tim asked.

  “Nothing yet,” Eric said. “He will want to talk to each of you alone before he makes his decision.”

  Juliet should have expected that to be the case, but, like her brothers, she thought the judge would already have their punishments in mind.

  Eric went to her door and unlocked it. “I need to talk to you.”

  “About what?” Tim asked.

  “About her husband,” Eric told him. “I’m not going to elaborate,” he added before Tim could ask any more questions.

  Did Carl decide he didn’t want to see her again? Did he have enough time to think about things and figured he was better off not seeing her before she had to go? Or maybe he thought about it and decided she was right, that he should get out of town, even if she couldn’t go with him. She told herself if he wanted to leave, then he should. It wasn’t his fault she was in jail. And besides, isn’t that what she wanted? To have a clean break so he would be free to finally be happy?

  Eric opened the door. “Juliet?”

  She glanced at her brothers. “Will I see them again?”

  He shook his head. “I’m afraid not. At least not for a long time.”

  She thought it was strange since they would all be going to prison, but she reasoned she would be locked up with other women and they would be with other men. “Then can I go into their cell and say good-bye without the bars between us?”

  “Sure.” Eric led her to their cell and let her go in. Sammy made a move toward the door, so Eric took out his gun. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. You not only have a lot of robberies on your head, but you also have Hank’s death to deal with.”

  Sammy grunted under his breath and plopped down on the cot. Since he refused to look at her, Juliet figured he had no interest in saying good-bye.

  She turned to Tim and gave him a hug.

  “I’m sorry we dragged you into this,” he whispered.

  “We’re all responsible for what we did,” she replied. “Me included. We just have to deal with the consequences of our actions.”

  “You’re too kind, Juliet. You’re just a woman. If it hadn’t been for us, you wouldn’t have gone along with what we did, and we both know it. But,” he added as he pulled away from her, “it’s awfully nice of you to think the best of your brothers.”

  “I could never think badly of you.” She turned to Micah and gave him a hug. “Take care of yourself.”

  “You too, Juliet,” he replied.

  After the hug ended, she gave one more look at Sammy, but he still refused to meet her gaze. She wasn’t any happier with him than he was with her since he had been willing to exchange her for money, but even so, he was her brother and she felt compelled to say something nice to him since this could very well be the last time they would see each other.

  “Good-bye, Sammy,” she ventured.

  He glowered at her but didn’t say anything.

  Tim shook his head and turned to her. “Don’t mind him. Micah and I will always want the best for you. Just know that.”

  With a nod, she left the cell and waited for Eric to lock the door before she followed him outside. She scanned the town, which seemed even smaller than before, if such a thing was possible. By now everyone knew what she’d done, and she imagined they were all talking about it.

  “I already talked to the judge about your situation,” Eric told her. “He said that under the law, you and Carl are seen as one person because of your marriage. Any debts you acquired are now seen as his.”

  “Wait,” she interrupted. “You can’t hold him accountable for the crimes I committed.”

  “That’s exactly what I’m doing. But it’s not what you’re thinking. He’s not going to jail. Because he didn’t actually commit the crimes, he is able to pay the bounty on your behalf. I’m going to take you to the stream so we can bring him to the judge so he can pay it. Phoebe told Caroline that he hasn’t left the stream ever since you were put in jail.”

  Carl had been at the stream all this time? She shouldn’t be surprised. He had told her he wouldn’t stop panning for gold until he had enough to cover her bounty, but a part of her couldn’t believe anyone would love her so much that he’d go through all of that sacrifice just for her.

  “Juliet!”

  She turned and saw Carl waving at her from the doorway of Jefferson’s store, holding his leather sack in his other hand. He closed the door and sprinted in her direction.

  Too excited to wait for him to reach her, she ran to meet him. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her.

  “I did it,” he said, cupping her face in his hands. “I got the money! Abe helped me. It wasn’t at the stream, but he knew where some was and he helped me get the rest of it.” He laughed and kissed her again. “I have it, and I can take you back home where you belong. We’re going to spend the rest of our lives together, and we’re going to be very happy.”

  She smiled through the tears in her eyes. “Oh Carl, I love you so much.”

  “I love you, too.”

  Then he brought her back into his arms and kissed her again, this time letting his lips linger on hers for the longest time.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  As much as Carl tried to stay awake that night, he couldn’t. He was far too exhausted. First, there had been all the days he’d spent at the stream. Then there had been the flurry of activity that ensued after he saw the judge and was able to clear her name so she could go home with him.

  Eric had promised he would tell her brothers what happened to her, and Caroline had offered to make them something to eat. They had lingered in town longer than he had planned. But honestly, he hadn’t minded it so much
. The town and the people in it didn’t irritate him like they had in the past. He had Juliet, and that was all that mattered.

  So it was no wonder he fell asleep right after he made love to her. He was surprised, however, that he didn’t wake up until late the next morning. When he opened his eyes, Juliet was flipping over a pancake in the pan, wearing the braids and pants he’d become familiar with.

  There were a few times while he was panning for gold in the stream the past week where he didn’t think he’d ever get the chance to see her making breakfast again. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he wiped his eyes. He’d never been as grateful for anything as he was to have her with him.

  “Good morning,” she greeted as she sat beside him.

  He lowered his hand and smiled. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  “I’m glad to be here, Carl.” She leaned forward and kissed him. “You’re the best thing I’ve ever had.”

  “I could say the same about you.”

  She glanced over at the cookstove. “I better get back to the pancakes. They don’t taste very good when they’re burnt.”

  Feeling playful, he shrugged and pulled her closer to him. “I don’t mind if they’re burnt.”

  Laughing, she gave him another kiss. “You only say that because you’ve never had to eat them that way.” She rose to her feet and returned to the cookstove. “Pancakes aren’t like bread. They cook much faster.”

  “Since you’re determined not to let me taste how awful burnt pancakes are, then I have no choice but to get out of bed.”

  “The horses will be relieved. Do you want to know how late it is?”

  “It can’t be later than ten.”

  “Wrong. It’s later than you think. It’s almost eleven thirty.”

  His eyes grew wide. “Eleven thirty?”