Pemberley Ranch - Jack Caldwell [128]
Beth thought about that. “Most of those folks have moved on. How are you going to let them know about their property?”
“We’ll send letters after them, or to their next of kin. If we get no reply after several years, we’ll sell the land and put the money in trust for them or keep the land untouched—a park for the people.”
Bennet eyed his future son-in-law. “You’ve done a bit of thinking about this.”
Darcy shrugged. “Yes, well, I had to do something waiting for the undertaker to show up at the B&R.”
Beth shuddered. “That’s pretty cold, son,” Bennet observed.
“Well, you didn’t hear what I did. Annie’s been talking. A quiet one, that Anne. Apparently she overheard a great deal sneakin’ around the house like she did. Didn’t tell anybody ’til now, ’cause she was afraid she’d lose whatever affection Cate had for her. She was scared Cate would throw her out of the house. Now, I ask you, what kind of mother would instill that much fear in her only child?
“Cate had been up to her eyeballs in Whitehead’s plans. Knew all about the railroad and stealing the land from the homesteaders. ’Course, Cate didn’t have any idea that Whitehead and Collins were double-crossing her. And while she didn’t know what Denny planned for the Washingtons beforehand, Cate wasn’t all that upset over the murders. Know what she said when she heard about the lynching? According to Anne, Cate said, ‘Serves them right—they should have stayed in Louisiana where their kind belongs.’ God forgive me, but it’s kind of hard to grieve over a woman like that.”
Mrs. Bennet walked through the open study door and spoke to the subdued group. “Will, dear, I’ve got some food on. You’re welcome to stay.”
Darcy got to his feet, shaking his head, and Beth got up with him, still holding his hand. “Thank you kindly, Miz Fanny, but I’ve got to get back to Pemberley. I’m sure Gaby’s ready to pitch a fit about now. Besides, I’ve got to see how Anne’s making out.” Darcy received a kiss on the cheek from his future mother-in-law, took his leave of Bennet, and allowed Beth to walk him out of the house to his horse. Before he climbed on his steed, he held Beth close in his arms and the two shared a long, slow kiss.
Will pulled back with a dazed look on his face. “Now, Beth, you keep that up, and I’m not likely to leave.”
Beth smirked. “Is that so, cowboy? Maybe we should do that again.”
Darcy ran his thumbs along her jaw line, sending chills through his fiancée. “Soon, darlin’. Soon we’ll be married, and I won’t have to say goodbye ever again. You will marry me soon, won’t you?”
Beth nodded. “As soon as I learn all that Catholic stuff—all that kneeling and bowing and prayer beads.”
One of Darcy’s eyebrows rose up to his hair line. “Kneeling and bowing and prayer beads? If I didn’t know better, I swear you’ve been talking to Fitz.”
Beth just smiled and kissed him. A moment later, she watched Darcy and Caesar make their way down the lane towards the main road and Pemberley.
TWO DAYS LATER, A company of cavalry from Fort Richardson under the command of Captain Buford arrived in response to Sheriff Lucas’s telegram. Buford immediately held a court of inquiry, and after a couple of hours of testimony, took Sally Younge, Billy Collins, and the surviving members of Denny’s gang into federal custody. As there was no longer a magistrate in Long Branch County, the prisoners were transferred to Fort Richardson to await trial by a traveling circuit judge. The evidence being irrefutable and the victims notable, the verdicts were never in doubt. All were convicted on conspiracy to commit fraud. Collins and the other men were also found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder. The only thing that saved the malefactors from the noose was that it could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that any had participated in the deaths of Mrs. Burroughs, Judge Phillips, or the Washingtons. Twenty years in prison for all was the sentence handed down.
As it turned out, neither Collins nor Younge would serve a full year in jail. Collins had managed to