How could Anthony control a bull without his help? The man was not a great cattleman. Of the two of them, he was the one who knew how to maneuver the stubborn animal and make it do what he wanted.
“I’ll just tie the bull to the back of the wagon,” Anthony said.
That could work, but if the animal became agitated, it could be really dangerous to him and Pearl. The thought of Pearl getting hurt made him sick to his stomach.
“I know we need the bull, but isn’t there some rancher around here who has one for sale?”
“Haven’t heard of any,” Anthony said. “Believe me, I would rather do that than deal with a deadly animal for two hours.”
Pearl stepped out of the house in her prettiest dress, a bonnet on her head, shading her face. “I’m ready. I made us sandwiches to eat somewhere along the trail. I even brought us a blanket in case we decided to stop somewhere along the road.”
She giggled.
“Darling, I love that idea, but we need to get going if we’re going to get back before dark,” Anthony said.
He was going to have the whole day alone with Pearl. A twinge of jealousy filled Wesley. They hadn’t spent all day with Pearl since they were courting. An ache began inside him. He wanted to go.
Damn it! He had been in the right to defend his little sister and brother from those hooligans. If his father didn’t believe him, then that was his choice, but he was tired of living with this fear hanging over him. It wasn’t his fault the man had died. It wasn’t his blow that killed him.
No matter what, he had not done anything wrong by protecting those he loved, and he would do it again. And what if Anthony got in a fight? What if he needed him?
How could he let him go without being there to help protect Pearl?
Maybe it was time to face his past like Anthony said. At least they would know for certain whether or not there was a price on his head.
“I’m going,” Wesley said, gazing at Anthony. “It’s time to put this behind me.”
Pearl turned and glanced at him. “Wesley, I don’t want to lose you. Stay home. We’ll be fine.”
Hope filled him. “With any luck, I won’t be arrested,” he said and helped Anthony prepare to leave.
Ten minutes later, they were on their way with Anthony driving the team of animals and Wesley sitting on the other side of Pearl. Nerves gripped him as he watched the road.
What would Pearl think? Would she be disappointed that she’d married a man who might have a price on his head?
“If we run into trouble, you take Pearl and leave. Get out of town. Don’t get involved with my father. The man can be a real dick.”
Anthony nodded. “No, I’ll find a lawyer and let him deal with your father and get you out of jail.”
Wesley felt Pearl tense. “But the fight wasn’t your fault.”
“No, but I should have walked away. I participated in a fight that created a lot of destruction in the saloon.”
Looking back, he recognized those men were itching for a fight, and when they talked badly about his sister, he’d given them what they wanted. With fists flying, he’d eventually lost.
Laughing, they had thrown his bloodied body onto the street. How a man died later, he didn’t know. But it wasn’t from his fists.
The closer they came to Helena, the more nervous he became. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. Maybe he should have stayed home.
Too late to back out now.
Pearl turned to him. “Wesley, no matter what happens, we’ll fight for you.”
Reaching over, he put his arm around her and pulled her to him. “Thank you, Pearl.”
An hour later, they rode into town. He couldn’t help but notice how much the town had grown in the last two years.
As they drove by the saloon on Main Street, he couldn’t help but stare. It looked the same. Then they passed the sheriff’s office. Wesley didn’t see his father. He saw no one.