Cole's Redemption (Love Amongst the Pines) (33 page)

             
Just then, Bill Watkins, Preacher Dean, and four other men filed in. Surrounding the bed, they lifted Greene, and cradling him between them, headed toward the doorway.

             
"You're all crazy! Plum crazy! Put me down!"

             
Natty watched, suddenly paralyzed by the spectacle before her. Seeing the men leave, a small hope began to stir inside her. Without thinking, she stuffed the worn paper into her skirt pocket and fled the room, following the townspeople and the ranger.

             
A solemn crowd had gathered at the west end of town. Cole squinted as he stepped outside of the jail. The sun shone too bright, the air was too brisk, and the murmuring hum of people gathered fell into a too quiet assembly.

             
"Cole," Natty cried out. She skirted the gathering of the townspeople just the way she had when she braved the entire city of Whispering Pines at his first hanging. Though her clothes were different and her face was clean, Natty was just as brave and just as beautiful as she had been that day.

             
"I'm here," Cole told her. He reached out to pull her into his arms one last time. For a moment, they just stood there, oblivious to the crowd and clinging to each other. Neither one daring to move or breathe.

             
"It's time," Judge said quietly beside them. "I'm sorry, Cole, but we have to tie your hands."

             
Cole nodded, though he didn't take his eyes from Natty. She would be his strength, his focus. Hers would be the last image he would carry out of this life.

             
As Sheriff Watkins pulled Cole's hands gently behind him, Natty kept her arms around his waist and held on for dear life. Cole tilted his head to rest upon hers. He gently kissed the top of her head when Judge gently pulled them apart.

             
"I'm sorry, Natalie," Judge whispered. He took Natty by the shoulders and led her to stand beside Cole's mother. Miriam held her daughter-in-law in a fierce embrace, clutching her handkerchief and openly sobbing. Miss
Melly
flanked Miriam's left side, supporting her mistress with the strength of a lioness. Dermott stood beside them both, tall and proud, a damp trail of tears glistening on his face as well.

             
Cole took a deep breath. He didn't look away from the sight of his loved ones as they led him towards the gallows. The sheriff stood on one side, Judge on the other, with Preacher Dean following behind him. Cole could barely make out the sounds of his voice as he read the Twenty-third Psalm.

             
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want," Preacher said in his pulpit voice.

             
Cole glanced away from Natty as he was turned towards the wooden steps. Just over the top of the platform, he could see the tip of the noose hanging down, swinging slightly as the group ascended the stairs.

             
To his right stood the undertaker, Mr. Smithy, dressed in black and, beside him, was his casket wagon. The people of the street remained quiet, ready for the proceedings to begin.

             
"It's about damn time," Wesley Greene's voice called out over the procession.

             
"Hey, Mr. Ranger," Dermott called out above the crowd, "
ain't
you dead yet?"

             
The townspeople chuckled nervously.

             
"Well, if he
ain't
then he ought to be. It's damn
disparagin
' to have to listen to him all the time." Dermott cleared his throat and spit into the dirt.

             
Cole couldn't help but smile a little. In spite of all that had happened and what was about to take place, he found an odd comfort in these people. He sent Natty a final glance as he began the long ascent to his final moments of life.

             
When their eyes met, a shock stabbed through her.  Suddenly, she patted her hands down her skirt and pulled the folded piece of paper from her pocket.

             
"Wait!" Natty jerked forward, and pulling away from the rest of the crowd, rushed forward.

             
"Natty, honey, go on, and let's get this done," the Judge said as he stepped between her and the stairs.

             
"Please, Judge, listen to me this one time. If this
ain't
important, then I won't say another word, I promise."

             
"What is it, Natty?"

             
"It's this," She held out the parchment. "I found it in the ranger's room. Tell me what it says."

             
Judge took the paper from her. Unfolding the document, he quickly read the block lettering. Without saying a word, he turned towards the gallows and took the steps two at a time.

             
"Untie that boy," he ordered.

             
For a moment, no one moved, each man looked towards the other in obvious confusion.

             
"What are you
sayin
,' Judge?" Bill Watkins asked.

             
"I'm saying that this hanging is over." He turned to Cole, "Son, you're free to go."

             
The crowd stirred around them, and a cheer broke out. "I don't understand? What does it say?" Natty ran up the steps, nearly tripping on her gown and threw her hands around Cole's neck, nearly knocking the two of them over.

             
"What the hell are you doing?" Greene shouted over the crowd. He stood leaning on two men, breathing heavily.

             
"What I'm doing is setting an innocent man free, Mr. Greene. This paper proves it, and there's nothing you can do to change it. You son-of-a-bitch. You were just going to let him die."

             
"What does it say?" Cole asked again.

             
"It says that the man you killed was a wanted man. It's a Federal warrant for the arrest of Jared Greene, and it's dated two whole years ago. Not only him,
but
the other gang members he was riding with. They were all wanted for murder in Texas. It looks like you're a hero, after all, Cole."

             
"That man is the murderer, I tell you! He killed my son!" Greene shouted.

             
"Your son had a price on his head. My guess is that you paid off your lawmen friends in Texas and bribed them into keeping this a secret. I doubt it'll take more than a few telegraphs to clear the matter up once and for all."

             
Cole glanced at the rope that hung still beside him.

             
"Looks like you kept me from hanging one more time, Natty," he said his voice gentle and full of wonder.

             
"It's becoming a full-time job," she smiled back at him. As his hands were loosed, he wasted no time in pulling his wife into a full embrace and giving her a long, joyous kiss. Neither of them heard the hoots and cheer from the crowd below.

             
As the
couple were
lead down the stairs, Miriam rushed to enfold her son and his wife, her sobbing heard over the din of the gathered townspeople.

             
"What I want to know is why," Judge asked, himself descending the stairs and walking to stand in front of Greene. "Why were you so set on seeing Cole hanged?"

             
"I think I know, Judge," Cole said behind him. Moving closer, holding Natty on one side, his mother on the other, he met Wesley Greene's disdainful glare.

             
"It wasn't revenge for your son's death after all, was it?"

             
"You took his life," Greene stated softly.

             
"Yes, I did. I'm sorry. Not the taking of it so much as the damage it caused you."

             
"You don't know what you're talking about."

             
"Yes, I think I do. You came north to find your son, not your son's killer. This whole time you were set on finding Jared and taking him back to Texas. You meant to see him hang, not me. When that didn't happen, you were going to send me up instead."

             
Greene narrowed his gaze at Cole. "Jared was my problem. His mother left when he was eight years old. I did the best I could raising him alone. I taught him the law and what judgment meant. He ignored me. He was a wild boy, just like his mother. She ran off with a gambler, and we never saw her again. I know he had a hard life, but that wasn't any excuse. I meant to take him home. I meant to see justice for him. You stole that from me. A lawman has a right to see justice. He was my responsibility. You were wrong to interfere."

             
"He shot an innocent woman and her child, and then laughed about it. I had to give Maggie and her baby peace or my soul would never have known rest. I am sorry for your loss, but that part of my life is over. It ended the day Natty pulled me off the gallows the first time."

             
Greene grimaced. "Some would say it wouldn't have mattered how Jared died, that he had to pay for his sins either way. But, it did matter, dammit. It mattered to me." Suddenly, the ranger sagged between the two men who held him. His eyes rolled back. The ranger took one final breath.

             
"Set him down, boys," Doc Evans said as he rushed over to examine him.

             
"He's dead, isn't he?" Judge asked. "It's just as well. Mr. Smithy, it looks like you'll have work today, after all."

             
Cole dropped his head for a moment. "Judge, you sure this is all cleared up by that paper? I mean, there won't be anybody else coming around trying to put a rope around my neck?"

             
"I'm going to send out letters to every government office from here to Boston. I'll get it out on the wire as soon as possible. If I'm not mistaken, you've got some reward money coming. At least you two won't have to be killing rabbits to eat for a while."

             
"Oh," Miriam said beside them. "I have plenty of money. I sold everything. What I don't have in my valise, I can get from my banker in Boston."

             
Cole turned to his mother, "You sold your house? You loved that house!"

             
"Not as much as I love you, Cole. Besides, with you here and your father gone, what do I have to go back to?"

             
Cole stared at her for a moment, before he could speak, Judge stepped forward.

             
"Miriam, speaking for myself, and the township of Whispering Pines, we'd be most honored to have you stay with us. I'm sure we could make arrangements for a place for you to live."

             
Cole stood amazed as his mother smiled at Judge. She was blushing like a schoolgirl.

             
"I think this is reason to have one of them '
Ain't
gonna
have a
hangin
' after all' parties!" Dermott yelled. The crowd cheered.

             
"I think it is appropriate," Preacher Dean shouted above the din, "if the first place we go is to the church. We'll set up a social right out front."

             
Cole turned to Natty. "What do you say? Looks like we've got some more celebrating to do."

             
After the day's activities, Natty stood on her own front porch and watched her new neighbors pack up the last of their belongings and prepare to leave. In minutes, she and her husband were exchanging well wishes and congratulations from the inhabitants of Whispering Pines.

             
For the second time in her life, her heart was full. She'd never known family and friends like this. Already, she'd been given more gifts that a person deserved. When the last wagon pulled out of the yard, she and Cole returned to the house. Miriam and Judge were sitting at the small table in
Natty's
new kitchen.

             
Gently, Cole leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead.

             
"Mother wants to give us our wedding present," he said, smiling.

             
Surprised, Natty turned to Miriam. "Oh, you don't have to, really. I mean, just having you here is present enough, Mother
Remmington
."

             
Miriam stood up. "No, I think you'll want to see this."