Ella’s chuckle became a laugh. “Don’t growl, love. It just means I can read you.”
He shook his head. No one had ever been able to read him before, not even Cassie. “You’ve done a number on me, darlin’. I used to have a tough reputation.”
“All a cover for that tender heart beating in your chest.”
He grunted. “Let’s not go spreading that around.”
She laughed again.
Cody reached for her hand, pulling her to his side. “Are you excited to see your sister?”
“Oh, yes.” Her eyes lit up. “I’ve missed her dearly. It’ll be wonderful to catch up. And I can’t wait for you two to get to know one another.”
One side of his mouth turned up. “Anything will be better than her pointing a rifle at me.”
Ella gasped. “She didn’t!”
“She sure did. In her defense, she didn’t know who I was, and she’d just fired the signal for help. I could’ve been the ruffian, for all she knew. By the way, I’m glad we told Miss Hattie about the double gunshot summons. She’s the one who told Tori.”
“Thank God for that.”
A familiar voice chimed in. “Glad to see you looking so well, my friend.”
Cody’s gaze swung to the door, where Travis leaned against the frame. His brother-in-law’s face held a smile, but something serious lingered in his eyes. Cody frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“You’ve never been one to mince words.” Travis smirked and came into the room. “Nothing’s wrong, necessarily. It’s just…” His glance darted to Ella. “Howard’s dead.”
She sucked in a sharp breath. “Dead?” Her teeth came down hard on her bottom lip. “Is that…did I…kill him?”
“No.” Travis emphasized his words with a shake of his head. “The infection killed him. He was alive and kicking when I took him to the deputy marshals. We don’t know why his wound festered. There are a hundred possibilities. But I do know this—it wasn’t your fault. Your actions saved all our lives.”
Cody squeezed her hand. “He’s right, darlin’. Howard made his choice. You did what you had to do.” He smiled, tipping up her chin. “And just so we’re clear, I’m downright impressed with your shooting skills.”
Ella blushed, but it was accompanied by a smile. “I had an excellent teacher.”
Blast his injuries. He wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms and hold her tight, but that could reopen his wounds. Cody settled for kissing her hand. “We make a good team.”
Travis coughed. “Not that either of you remember I’m in the room—but please, save the lovey-dovey stuff for private.”
“The door is that way,” Cody said, jerking his head to the side. “And might I remind you how many times I had to suffer through you and Cassie being exactly that?”
Travis laughed. “Point taken.” He hitched his thumbs in his belt. “I need to be going, anyway. I’ll take our borrowed horses back to Clancy and pick up Preston and Blaze. Just gotta finish up my business with the authorities here, then get home to my wife.”
“Does that business have to do with Howard?” Ella asked.
“Yeah. That’s why I’ve been at the station so much. At first, it was talking about how to try him since he committed crimes in Montana Territory. Now it’ll be what to do with his body. Does he have any family in Boston?”
Ella shook her head. “Not that I know of.”
“Well, that’ll make it easier. We can just bury him here.” Travis tipped his hat. “See you both back home.”
Once he left, Ella pressed Cody’s hand to her chest.
He studied her for a moment. “Are you sure you’re all right, Ella?”
She didn’t answer right away. Her teeth sank into her lip again, and she stared out the window for a full minute. But when she turned back to him, her eyes were clear. “Yes, Cody, I’m fine. It’s a bit of a shock that Howard died. But if given the chance to do it over again, knowing the outcome, my choice would be the same.” She kissed his cheek. “We can finally put fear and uncertainty behind us. I’m ready to see what the future holds for our family.”
Cody ran his fingers over her palm. “Me too.” He tugged her closer, lowering his voice to a whisper. “From what I can tell, it’s gonna be a bright one.”
