The Secret Diary, page 12
part #13 of Lockets And Lace Series
Betsy sat on Ben’s bed, waiting for the outlaws to arrive. Both Tim and Noah were standing near the door with their guns drawn. Betsy told them about the stash of money in the closet.
“Thank you, Betsy,” Tim said. “I’ll collect that later.”
“When we decide it’s time to apprehend them, you’re to stay here,” Noah instructed Betsy. “Is that understood?”
She nodded.
“If you don’t stay here, you could endanger me and Tim.”
They didn’t have long to wait before they heard the front door open and the outlaw’s voices in the sitting room.
“Where is she?” Sam asked.
“I took care of her,” Cody said.
“You killed her?”
“Have a seat, and I’ll tell you how I did it.”
Sam, Leo, and Jake took a seat and waited.
Cody stood and walked near the doorway to the hall leading to the bedrooms and said loudly, “I killed my half-sister with a knife from the kitchen. Now, the kitchen's a bloody mess. I hope you’re satisfied.”
“Well done,” Leo said.
Noah and Tim took that moment to barge into the room.
“Hands up over your heads!” Tim shouted.
“Stand up,” Noah said. The men rose with their hands over their heads.
Noah frisked them. Both Leo and Sam had guns in their holsters. Jake had a knife in his boot. Tim tied their hands behind their backs while Noah aimed his gun at them. Cody was tied-up, as well.
“Betsy!” Noah called. When she appeared he said, “Stay here until I come back.”
Tim and Noah promptly escorted the four men to jail.
Chapter Twenty
Noah led Betsy into his hotel room. He sat her down and stood over her, his hands on his hips. “Now, why were you not only in St. Joe, but inside the Wheeler home? Do you have a death wish?”
“It all started when your grandmother said, ‘the Lord helps those who help themselves,’" Betsy said. "Since it’s in the Bible, I figured I should do something to help so you didn't get killed.”
“Betsy, that’s not a Bible verse.”
“It isn’t? Huh. No wonder I couldn’t find it.”
“I purposely took you home to keep you safe.”
Betsy’s face turned red, and she stood and faced him, hands on hips, mirroring his stance. “So, you get the assurance that I’m safe while I have to sit home and worry about your safety. That’s not fair, Noah.”
“But I’m a lawman and you’re a woman.”
Betsy gasped. “Of all the ignorant things to say!”
Noah thought she looked fetching when she was all riled up. He grabbed her, pulled her to him, and kissed her passionately. When he pulled away, he said, “I find you very alluring when you’re angry.”
Betsy fell back onto the bed, pulling him along with her. “And when you kiss me, I feel too weak to continue being angry.”
Noah kissed her again. “Good to know.”
“Before things get too out of hand,” she said, “I want to ask that you go easy on Cody. He has potential. He was willing to risk his life to save mine.”
Noah traced her jawline with his finger. “I guess I owe him for that. I’ll talk to Tim and the judge. He’s also agreed to testify against the others. Tim has him locked in a room at his house rather than at the jail where the so-called friends would likely beat him to a pulp. I’ll talk to Tim. I have the perfect punishment in mind for Cody.”
“I’m listening.”
“I’ll send him to Aggie. She’ll teach him about God and the Bible, and I'll make sure he stays with her for a full year. When he serves his term, I’ll give him a job on our ranch.”
“Noah, that’s a wonderful idea! I really think Cody could turn out to be a rock-solid, Muddy Creek citizen.”
“Does he know you and he aren’t really related?”
“Not yet. I’ll tell him.”
“You’ll be pleased to know I’ve also found someone to take my place as sheriff of Muddy Creek.”
“Who?” Betsy asked, snuggling closer to her husband.
“Tim’s brother, Andrew. He’s been Tim's deputy here, in St. Joe, and he’s really excited about being a sheriff in Muddy Creek.”
“Are you happy about giving up your badge?”
“Yes, because I have a wife who won’t stay out of my business, who endangers herself, and would only cause me to worry about her in the future.”
“I feel it’s my job as your wife.”
“And since I know I can’t stop you, I’ll hand in my badge and work on the ranch. I don’t think you can get into any danger there.”
“It’s all your fault, Noah Sommers. You’ve made me love you, and now I can’t bear to live without you.”
Noah kissed her. “You won’t have to, my love.”
Epilogue
Cody spent a year with Aggie. Right after, he got a job on the Sommers’ Horse Ranch as a groomer and trainer. He had a small room in the rear of the stables. Cody planned to become a minister, and since Wilma had taken a liking to the lad, she agreed to pay for his college. She didn't consider it a donation, but rather, a contribution to God. She told her family, “The world needs good ministers, and his testimony, alone, will serve as a witness to others.”
Before Cody went to Aggie’s, Betsy told him the truth. He hugged her and said, “It doesn’t matter. In my eyes, you’ll always be my sister. You’ve changed my life.”
A year after Cody went to the seminary, Betsy went into labor. She and Noah produced a son: Paul Michael Sommers. Betsy presented him to Noah, saying, “As you ordered: a ranch hand.”
Noah looked at his son with awe. “No, sweetheart—he’ll be the boss-man someday.”
The ranch flourished. They had already added a large extension to the stables to house their horses, numbering over one hundred. Each year they held a horse show and auction. Betsy helped design the addition they put on the house to accommodate their growing family as the Sommerses had plans to have a large family.
Betsy glowed with happiness. She had a family—a real family—for the first time in her life.
Noah still loved to get her dander up because he loved to test his ability to calm her with kisses.
When they'd first moved into their home, Betsy had asked Noah if he'd teach her to ride a horse and shoot a gun, to which Noah purposely said, “Sweetheart, your job is in the kitchen.”
He counted silently and only made it to three before she said, “Are you sure you want to continue with that line of thinking?” She awaited Noah's answer, her hands on hips, and her foot tapping on the floor.
Noah smiled, took her in his arms, and kissed her passionately. “I just wanted to see if kisses still worked.”
Betsy put her head on his chest. “What was I angry about?”
“I’ve forgotten, but I love you, Elizabeth Sommers.”
~~~**~~~
Look for all the Lockets and Lace Round two books:
(10) Sandra's Journey https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PCQ66HJ
(11) Joy, Unending: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P9P6MJJ
(12) Uniquely Common: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PCN93XG
(13)The Secret Diary: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PCPRF5Q
(14) Taming a Scandal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PCNR6B1
(15) The Outlaw’s Letter : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P8K6XMB
(16) Promised Land: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P7F5RPF
(17) Driving Lillian: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P7HR4W4/
(18) A Promise of Home: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PCPQHDC
(19) Virginia’s Vocation: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P8LTXDL
Find Barbara Goss here at these links
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http://www.barbaragossbooks.com
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DO YOU ENJOY SWEET WESTERN ROMANCES?
Sweet Wild West Reads is a Facebook group and a wonderful place for sweet western romance authors and readers to discuss their favorite stories, thoughts, and authors. Join the group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1832790870336744/
Other books by Barbara Goss:
(Click on the title for link)
Forbidden Legacy
Captured Heart
Stolen Heritage
Dangerous Illusions
Silent Love
The Final Vow
The Kissing Bridge
Drawn from Darkness
Temptation by Moonlight
The Romantic Ruse
Shadow of Shame
Shadow of Deceit
Shadow of Regret
Shadow of Hope
Shadow of Love
Shadow of Faith
Shadow of Second Chances
Sunshine in the Rain-Yesterday’s Rain
Mail Order Mishap Book 1
Mail Order Vixen Book 2
Mail Order Ruse book 3
Mail Order Calamity Book 4
Mail Order Compromise Book 5
The Guilty Proposal
The Shotgun Proposal
The Housekeeper’s Proposal
Dan McCall’s Bride
Looking for Love:
Delightfully Deluded
Ricochet Romance
Wanted: Horse Breeder
Wanted: A Trusting Heart
Lawfully: Rescued
A Bride for Nathan
The Trapper
A Bride for Travis
Coming Soon
Hope (Prairie Rose Series)
The Secret Diary (Lockets and Lace Series)
DO YOU ENJOY SWEET WESTERN ROMANCES?
Sweet Wild West Reads is a Facebook group and a wonderful place for sweet western romance authors and readers to discuss their favorite stories, thoughts, and authors. Join the group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1832790870336744/
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Thanks for reading.
Barbara Goss, The Secret Diary
