"Of course I will tell the truth!" Helene replied, offended. She wanted to know about Whitey's past, even if he was in some trouble. She couldn't plan marriage to him unless he was free, and to her, that meant free of any debts he owned to society.
"Miss, the man you described in your telegram to the Texas Rangers sounds like someone we have been looking for. Do you know where he is?"
"Yes, but why are you looking for him?" she asked, obviously upset.
"Miss, I promise we'll answer your questions in due time. Can you take us to this man right now...? Please...?" the tallest of the two asked.
"Uncle, may I ride with these two men out to the Circle C?" she asked permission.
"No. I don't know these men from any other drifters who wander into town." Peter was protective of his niece. "I'll give you directions," he told them, "but this little girl isn't riding anywhere with two men I don't know from Adam."
"Sir, I appreciate your concern. I would feel the same way in your place. Directions to the ranch would be fine," the man said, nodding his head.
Helene listened as her Uncle gave the two men directions and then she went upstairs, sat at the kitchen table and buried her face in her hands and cried. It didn't matter to her what Whitey had done, she wanted to be with him... be his wife... and have his children. She got to her feet in determination, took the baked pies from the oven... and then she ran to her bedroom and changed into riding clothes. It didn't take her long to run to the stable, rent a horse, and leave town at a gallop. If Whitey caught her riding like this he would spank her again, but she didn't care. She was going to save him!
Robert was discouraged. He had spent long hours each day hunting for Sir Gregory Flockton but there was no sign of the man anywhere. Rob was sure that Flockton was toying with him; hiding and allowing him to search without success. He decided to ride over to see Matt Chambers and see if they had had any problems at all. He was not a bit surprised to learn that Matt had stationed quite a few of his men around the house, doing odd jobs. He wanted his daughter safe, and Rob could well imagine the fit Mandy was having by now. He was sure that the spanking he had administered to her pretty bottom had worn off by now and she was back to normal and giving Matt a difficult time. Rob had to smile. He truly loved Amanda's feisty nature.
Rob knocked on the door and he heard running feet, and Matt's deep bellow ordering his daughter to stand back and let him get it. Rob grinned as he waited for the door to be unlocked and opened. "I gather our Mandy is back to normal?"
"She is and I'm about to cut me a switch!" Matthew declared, thoroughly exasperated that his daughter seemed to ignore all of his warnings as each opportunity presented itself.
"Papa, you are worrying too much!" Amanda scolded. "I'm not going to do anything rash. Please stop scolding me for every little thing!"
"I'll do more than scold you if you run to answer a door again!" Matt threatened.
"Mandy, I thought you promised you would behave...?" Rob asked, gently tapping the end of her nose with his index finger.
"I am behaving," she insisted. "Papa is just worrying too much. He won't even allow me to keep my bedroom window open at night and it is stifling in my room!" she complained.
"Thank you, Matt," Rob made his position clear.
"I might know you would take Papa's side!" she pouted.
"Only because I love you and want you to be safe. I know Sir Gregory Flockton, my dear, and you do not. Just because he is laying low right now does not mean he has not been making plans to come for you. You must be smarter than he and remain where we can hope to protect you. Your compliance is the only thing that will ease my mind."
Amanda looked into his dark eyes and saw his love for her reflected in their depths. "I will do as you ask, Rob, as long as you promise me something in return."
"What is that?" Unless it was too outrageous for words, he would grant her request. He smiled, waiting for her answer.
"I want you to be careful, too. I could not bear for you to be harmed."
"I will be very careful," he replied, then leaned down to kiss her to seal the pact, forgetting that Matt was only a few feet away.
"I'll go and see if Goldie is almost done with lunch. Rob, you look like you could use a good meal..."
"I am famished," Rob admitted, and while Matt was out of the room, he pulled Amanda close and hugged her tightly. "Thank you for obeying me in this matter, my love. I am so proud of you."
"I did not have much choice at first," she confessed. "Rob, I was welted and I do not want another spanking like that ever again!" she said firmly.
"I will not spank you again, my love... as long as you behave yourself, so that rather puts it in your hands." He smiled at her. "I promise I will find him, Mandy. And, after I do, we shall go riding and take a picnic lunch with us."
"I'll look forward to that."
"Come on, you two. Goldie has food hot and on the table," Matt called out. He was happy to see the two of them on good terms once again. He approved of Robert Thorne, and he liked the idea of his little girl living next door to him. After all, when he got too old to care, this ranch would go to Mandy and her husband and kids. He just might go hunting for this rotten polecat himself!
Goldie served them with a smile, her actions letting them know that she was pleased to have Rob at 'her' table once again. Perhaps the two kids would get married after all.
Helene knew the countryside better than the two lawmen and she was relieved to realize that she arrived at the ranch ahead of what she assumed were Texas Rangers. The Whitey she knew wasn't capable of doing anything wrong. She jumped down and ran into the barn, looking for him. "Whitey!"
"Helene, what are you doing here?" Whitey stepped out of the shadows to ask. He was happy to see her, but he could see that something was very wrong.
"You were right. I shouldn't have sent out those wires. Two men came into Uncle Peter's store and wanted me to lead them here. Uncle Peter said 'no', but he gave them directions, and they are on their way here as we speak. I am so very sorry."
"It is time I face up to my past, Helene. I can't have a future with you until I deal with my past."
"No! I want us to leave here right away. We'll ride north until we get to Canada!"
"Canada? Do you have any idea how far that is?"
"We can do it. I don't want you to go to prison." She pleaded with him, but Whitey was adamant. He meant to stay and face up to whatever he'd done.
Helene felt despair when the pair rode into the yard and asked another hand where they could find Whitey. He pointed them in the direction of the barn and Helene did the unthinkable. She pointed a gun at them and said, "You two can just turn your horses around and get out of here. Whitey is not a criminal, and I won't let you have him!"
"Miss, please put the gun down," the tall man said quietly. "We don't want any trouble."
"Mace...?" Whitey called out, his face pale as he recognized the other man.
"Yeah, little brother, it's me," Mace grinned. "I'd about given up hope. I was afraid you were lying dead somewhere."
"Helene, put the gun down, honey. This is my brother, Mace. And, I'm not wanted. I'm a Texas Ranger!" Whitey said proudly. He picked her up and spun her around. "Will you marry me, darlin'?"
Helene looked at Whitey, crying and laughing at the same time. "Yes, of course I will! I was ready to run away to Canada with you, wasn't I?"
"I ought to spank you for pulling that gun on Mace and Snyder, missy, but I won't. Not today, anyway. I'm too happy."
"Have you been here all along?" Mace asked curiously.
"Sure have. The Boss found me, half dead, and he nursed me back to health. I've been here since then, working for my keep."
"He thought he was involved in a robbery, but he wasn't. I knew it!"
"Is there a problem?" Matt Chambers suddenly materialized, standing beside Whitey in a protective manner.
"No, sir. I'd like for you to meet my brother, Mace Gibbons."
Matt shook hands with Mace. "I'm glad to meet you. I never did feel Whitey done anything wrong.
"He's a Texas Ranger," Helene pointed out. "Isn't that wonderful?" Her smile was tremulous and full of pride as she clung to his arm. "I can't wait to tell Uncle Peter. He will be happy, too, because he likes you! And, I've got to go and tell Amanda the good news right now!"
She took off running for the big house and Matt had to grin. She was so full of energy that it amazed him, and he knew that Amanda would be planning a big party to celebrate the engagement. He just wanted the same for his daughter and Matt. "Men..." he began, "We could sure use some help around here. There's a man who calls himself Sir Gregory Flockton, and he is trying to kill my neighbor, Robert Thorne...."