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“I don’t know. He was about to shoot me, and then he just fell. I think he’s dead.”
Kneeling beside him, Kristin checked the body for vital signs. She shook her head. “He’s gone. From the look of his face, I’d say it was a stroke.” Her breath emerged as a single broken sob. “His poor family! This will be too much for them! If only I could have stopped him!”
“He had the shotgun cocked and aimed,” Mason said. “Another second and it would’ve been me lying here. He said I killed Gerda, and he was going to send me to hell for it.”
Kristin laid a hand on his arm. “Gerda’s dead. She miscarried and hemorrhaged in the field. But you didn’t kill her, Mason. The baby couldn’t have been yours. And there’s no evidence that you hurt her in any way.”
“You mean . . . I’m cleared?” His heart leaped.
“Except for a few formalities, yes. You were innocent. Foolish, but innocent.”
“Lord, what a relief!” Mason flung his arms around his sister and hugged her to him. She returned his embrace, but with a measure of reserve.
“Listen to me, Mason,” she said, releasing him. “You just escaped what would have been an awful outcome. But the slate isn’t clean. A young woman and a good man are both dead because you got involved. If you hadn’t flirted with Gerda, none of this would’ve happened.”
“Hey, I thought you were my little sister,” he said. “Why are you talking to me like mybigsister?”
“Somebody needs to. It’s time to grow up. And you can start by taking responsibility for what’s happened here. Get some help to wrap this poor man’s body. Then you can load it on a wagon, deliver it to the sheriff in town, and tell him everything that happened out here. Take the shotgun as evidence—oh, and the horse. I’ll check with the sheriff tomorrow to make sure you’ve done your part.”
“Shouldn’t you come with me now, sis? I might need you to back up my story.”
“Not this time. You’ll be on your own because I’ve got a harder job to do. I’m the one who has to go back and tell Lars’s family, starting with Hanna. Maybe she can help me break the news to her mother and sister. They’re all going to be heartbroken.”
“What’s going on out there?” Amelia’s shrill voice carried from the parlor.
“Everything’s under control, Mother,” Mason called back. “Go on back to bed. I’ll tell you about it later.”
“I’m leaving now,” Kristin said. “Can I count on you to go to the sheriff?”
“You can. I’m not a complete scalawag, sis.”
“Good. Prove it.” She turned and walked back out the gate without another word. A moment later he heard her auto start up and drive away.
Mason sank onto the top step and pressed his hands to his face. His stomach was churning. His head was spinning. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He was alive. He was safe. As soon as he delivered the big man’s body as promised, he’d be free to forge ahead, as if this nightmare had never happened.
Luck was with him. He could feel it coursing like liquid lightning through his veins. The upcoming product delivery would be the biggest yet. A few more like it and he’d be set. He could go wherever he wanted—New Orleans, maybe, or even Paris—and live like a king. When his mother died, he could sell this cursed ranch and have even more money—his to enjoy however he liked. To hell with cow shit and dust, miserable Montana winters, bland food, and boring people. He felt reborn. A new chapter in his life was about to begin.
* * *
Joseph was no stranger to sad funerals. Last year, when his Grandma and Grandpa Dollarhide had died of Spanish flu, he’d stood by their graves and cried his eyes out. But he was older now, almost a man. And although he’d loved his grandpa Lars, they’d never spent much time together. Truth be told, he’d been slightly afraid of the huge, gruff man who mostly talked about work. As for his aunt Gerda, Joseph had barely known her except that she’d been the prettiest of the Anderson sisters. He stood silent and dry-eyed as the graveside service continued under the guidance of a local minister.
The family had chosen a site on their old farm, where their oldest son, Alvar, was buried—three graves together now, instead of one. It struck Joseph as a desolate place to lie in the ground. But at least none of them would be alone.
The service was sparsely attended—maybe because the Andersons had kept mostly to themselves. The family was here, including Joseph’s parents and sisters. The sheriff had come, too, and Lars’s young apprentice, Pete. But there was no sign of Mason Dollarhide or his mother. There were no Calders here, either—unless you counted the distant Calder cousin who’d bought the old Tee Pee Ranch.
Major Logan Hunter had served overseas in the Great War. Grandpa Lars had done carpentry work for him, which was probably why he was here. Joseph had been curious about the man, who was rumored to be a war hero. But his father had insisted that nobody who shared Calder blood was worth knowing.
Now the major stood next to Aunt Kristin. As Joseph glanced at them, he saw her slip her hand into his. Now that was interesting. Did it mean that the major was going to be his uncle? Joseph would like that. But he knew that his father wouldn’t.
Grandma Inga stood next to the graves, with Britta and Joseph’s mother supporting her on either side. All three were crying, but Joseph could sense their strength. They would dry their tears and move on. Inga would be moving in with Joseph’s family to be with her daughter and her grandchildren. Britta would be moving into the small house that adjoined the school. Their home in town would be sold for the money they needed.
Joseph’s sisters were squirming and beginning to whine. “Take them to the buggy, Joseph,” his father said. “Tell them they have to be quiet.”
Joseph was happy to obey. He was getting tired, too. He could sit in the buggy, move around, and still hear most of what was being said.
He ushered his sisters to the buggy. Elsa curled into the corner of the seat and went to sleep. While the minister’s prayer droned on and on, Joseph and Annie leaned back in the seat and watched the clouds that were drifting in from the west.
“I see an elephant,” Annie whispered, “and there’s a big fish with two tails. What do you see, Joseph?”
