"I'll never forget the bastard," Harrison said. He explained how he'd met the man and what he'd done to him.
The judge didn't seem surprised by Harrison 's admission. "You wanted to kill him because he hurt your Mary Rose, but you didn't kill him. That's the difference between civil and animal. Are you an ignorant lawyer, or do you really know how the law works?"
"I know how the law works."
"I'd like to see you prove it to me. Will you come to Hammond tomorrow and talk to George Madden? He's the man they plan to condemn."
"What's the charge?"
"Stealing a horse. We don't take kindly to stealing anything out here, but when a man's horse is taken, well, then, folks tend to think the death sentence is the only possible punishment. You won't have long to work up your case, I'm sorry to say, but I've got a strong feeling that after you talk to Madden, you'll know who really took the horse. I won't say anything more to taint your mind, but the man deserves a fair hearing, and unless you come to Hammond with me, he won't get one. You can't bring your bride with you because the town's worked up over this business. The vigilantes have everyone all lathered up and ready for a lynching, and the sheriff has his hands full trying to keep order. I can't put off the trial date, so don't go asking me for any favors. The sheriff would sneak in my room and shoot me in my sleep if I decided to delay things. He's putting in twenty-four-hour days now, and his jail is bursting at the seams with men in need of my attention."
"They call you the hanging judge," Harrison remarked.
"That's nice to hear."
Harrison laughed. "You're a fair man, aren't you?"
"I like to think I am. If a man needs hanging, I'm not squeamish about seeing he gets it. It doesn't always matter what's right though, especially when a man is given a jury trial. His peers are mostly an ignorant breed."
"When do you want to leave?"
The judge smiled with satisfaction. "How about noon? It will take me that long to get up the strength to leave Belle's bed. I'll meet you outside her place tomorrow then, if that's agreeable."
"Yes, sir," Harrison said as he stood up. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a bride waiting to be kissed."
The judge stopped him at the doorway. "Mind telling me why she carried a pistol to her wedding? I've been mighty curious about that."
"I'm not completely certain, but I think she was letting me know she wasn't going to be coerced into doing anything she didn't want to do. I guess you could say she was trying to even up the odds. Her brothers and I were stacked up against her. She was also hoping to be married by a preacher. She wanted the union blessed, I suppose."
"Well, hell, son, drag her on in here. I'll be happy to bless her. Will it matter that I'm not a preacher?"
"I'm afraid so, Your Honor."
He left the judge snorting with laughter. Mary Rose was upstairs with Belle. The two women were looking in on Eleanor. His bride didn't come back downstairs until nearly three o'clock. Harrison sat on the porch and drank beer with her brothers. When Mary Rose came out to the porch, Harrison told her about the trial in Hammond.
The judge left with Belle an hour later, and Mary Rose went into the kitchen to help set the table for supper.
All four of her brothers seemed genuinely happy for their sister, and try as he might, Harrison couldn't understand why. Their turnabout confused him. He knew they had a motive for wanting the marriage; he just couldn't figure out what it was.
Cole sat in the chair next to Harrison. He turned to him first.
"How come you went along with the wedding?"
"It's like Douglas said," Cole drawled out. "No use closing the barn door after the horse got out. She loves you and you love her."
"And?"
"You'll bring her back home, where she belongs."
"Do you mean here? To your ranch?"
"The area at least. She belongs in Montana. The land's a part of her. You won't take that away from her."
"Where we live is in her hands," Harrison said. "She might change her mind after she meets Elliott."
Cole and Douglas exchanged a look Harrison couldn't quite interpret.
"And?" he persisted, determined to get to the end of the maze and find out what their true motive was.
"He can't keep her, can he?" Cole asked the question in a whisper-soft voice.
Harrison straightened in his chair. "Meaning what, Cole?"
Douglas answered. "Elliott can't keep her in England or marry her off to some rich old lord and make her stay in England for the rest of her life, can he? She's already married to you. We kind of think of you as our insurance."
"You met her here," Cole reminded him. "Like it or not, you're also a part of her past. You know all about us, but Elliott doesn't. Mary Rose is going to need to rely on your strength and your honor, and we all think you'll probably bring her back home. Yes, sir, that's what we think."
"Elliott isn't your enemy. If you knew him the way I do, you'd realize he would never make Mary Rose stay anywhere she didn't want to stay."
"So you say," Douglas replied. "We still wanted some protection for our sister."
"So you let her marry me. You've used backhanded logic. Haven't you considered the possibility that I might want to keep her in Scotland?"
Cole smiled. "You know what your problem is, Harrison? You're too damned noble for your own good. If she wants to come back to Montana, you'll bring her. You couldn't live with yourself if you made her unhappy. It's a shame, really. Love does have its price. Pleasing Mary Rose is going to be difficult, but you'll try."
"Just keep your eye on her," Douglas ordered. "Don't make us come after you. I know you believe Elliott's a good man, but we don't know him, now, do we?"
Mary Rose interrupted the discussion. Harrison stood up when she walked out onto the porch.
She'd changed her clothes. She'd worn an ivory dress for the wedding ceremony, but now she had on a pale pink dress with white trim. Her hair was pinned up behind her head. She looked very prim and proper to him, and suddenly all he wanted to do was pull the pins out of her hair, take her clothes off her, and make love to her.
She had other ideas in mind. She had a white apron in her hands, and while he stood there watching her, she unfolded the thing and tied it around her waist.
"I guess Harrison 's finally going to see the second floor of the house," Cole remarked.
"No, he isn't," Mary Rose blurted out. "Of course, he could if he wanted to, but I thought it would be nice if he and I stayed in the bunkhouse tonight. Do you mind, Harrison?"
"No," he answered, wondering over the quick blush that covered her cheeks. He couldn't imagine why she was embarrassed, but he decided he would have to wait until later to find out what was bothering her.
"Why are you putting an apron on?" he asked.
"I was going to help with supper."
He noticed her hands were shaking then. Her brothers must have noticed too. Douglas frowned with concern. "Are you feeling all right, Mary Rose? You aren't coming down with Eleanor's ailment, are you?"
"No, I'm fine."
Harrison decided not to wait to find out what was wrong. He took hold of his bride's hand and half dragged her to the other side of the porch.
"What's the matter with you?"
"Nothing," she whispered. "I'm just a little nervous."
"Why?"
"I just got married." She all but wailed out the fact.
Harrison tried to take her into his arms. She glanced over her shoulder to look at her brothers, then backed away from him.
The audience obviously embarrassed her. Harrison held on to his patience.