Bobby thanked Mr. Williams for all his help and then saddled his horse.  The judge's wife wanted him to stay for the midday meal, but he did not want to waste any more time.  He wanted to get back to Melinda.  He wondered, however, if she would even have him back.  His worried grew as he prepared for his trek.

Mrs. Williams gave him a bag of victuals and a jug of water.  "You take care," she told him.

He mounted his horse, thanked the couple again, and rode out into the dusty late morning heat.  As he traveled eastward, he stewed on his previous thought.  What if Melinda won't have me back?  I wouldn't blame her—me up an' leavin' without even sayin' goodbye.  Guess I'll just have to prepare for the worst.

He reached the small town mid-afternoon.  "Should I go all the way home tonight?" he asked himself.  He shrugged.  "I wouldn't be able to see Melinda 'til mornin' anyway.  Everyone'd be in bed by the time I got there."  He directed his horse toward the small hotel.  He'd get a good night's sleep and clean up before continuing his journey.  "No need lookin' like a wild man on my homecomin'."

He lodged his horse and checked in at the hotel.  He unpacked his few belonging from his saddlebag.  If Melinda will have me, he thought, I want to get married as soon as possible.  I can't wait to be a permanent member of that family.  They've all been so good to me.

But then Red's words came back to him.  You know I could never let you court Melinda if…  What if Red would not let him marry her?  What if Red held a grudge against him for leaving?  This new thought was almost as troubling as the first.

Maybe I should wire Red ahead of time, he decided.  I could tell him to meet me in town.  If he didn't show up, I'd know that he was angry with me.  Better yet, I could tell him that I wanted to surprise Melinda.  He could bring her to town with him.

He hurried to bathe and change his clothes.  After he sent the wire, he would purchase himself a new outfit for his wedding.

Melinda was weeding Birdie's garden when a horse trotted up the dirt road.  Her first thought was that it was Bobby.  But as it grew nearer, she could see that it was not him.  It was Johnson, a stable hand from town.  He asked for Red, and Melinda pointed him in the right direction.  She suspected nothing, for local men came to see Red quite often to buy horses and calves and what not.  She continued hoeing out the chickweed and dandelions.

Red relayed Bobby's plan to Birdie that night.  Red was quite excited when Johnson brought him the urgent telegram.

Birdie read it out loud.  "Arrest warrant gone.  Bring Melinda to church tomorrow noon."  She paused.  "Do you think he's gonna ask her to marry him?"

"That's sure what it sounds like," Red said.

"Well, then can I go an' maybe hide in the wagon or somethin'?" she asked.  "I wouldn't want to miss their weddin'."

"I don't see what it would hurt for you to go with us.  Sure would be less conspicuous if all of us went 'stead of just me an' her."

Birdie grinned from ear to ear.  It was settled.

Red took a gulp of his breakfast coffee and announced, "I'm finally caught up on my work, so I declare today family day.  I figured we could go to town an' shop fer anything special ya'll might be wantin' and then have lunch at the hotel.  How does that sound?"

Birdie was first to speak up.  "Sounds good to me," and she handed Joey a piece of toast.

Joey took the bread.  "Yeah, sounds good ta me too.  Can we get some lemon drops?"        "I don't see why not," Red told him, "if it's okay with yer momma."

"Is it okay, Mama?" Joey asked.

Melinda did not reply.  She was busy staring into nothingness.  She lifted her cup to her lips but did not drink.

"Wha's wrong wif Mama?" Joey whispered to his aunt.

"She's just thinkin' prob'ly," Birdie said softly.  "Melinda?"

Joey's momma looked toward her sister.  "I'm sorry.  Did you say something, Birdie?"

"Joey wants to know if he can get some candy when we go to town," Birdie told her.

"You all are going to town?" Melinda asked.

"We all are, Mama," Joey said.  "Weren't you lis'nin'?"

"No, honey, I'm afraid I wasn't listening.  But I don't care to go to town today.  You all go without me."

Red and Birdie looked at each other.  They had not thought about the possibility of Melinda not wanting to go to town with them.  Now what would they do?  Birdie tried to convince her, but still she refused.

"I'll buy you a new hat," Red added.  Surely no woman would forego the gift of a new hat, he decided.

But Melinda insisted that she stay at the farm.  So Red, Birdie, and Joey set off to town without her.

"If she won't go to Bobby an' the preacher," Red quietly told his wife, "Then we'll just have to bring Bobby an' the preacher to her."

Joey leaned on Birdie's arm as they traveled.  "Is my momma gonna be sad forever?" he asked.

"What?" the aunt replied.

"I'm sad too 'cause Bobby left," he said, "But I play with my toys an' books, an' they make me feel better.  Maybe we should buy Mommy a toy or book."

Red chuckled heartily, and Birdie grinned.  That didn't sound like such a bad idea.  "What kinda toy?" Red asked.

"Ummm… uh… How 'bout one of those wood checkerboards that Mr. File makes?"

"Okay," the uncle agreed.  "We'll stop at Mr. File's house and get one."

Joey talked the rest of the way to town, pointing out flowers and insects and the hawk birds that Bobby had introduced him to.  When they reached the general store, the boy placed his hand on Birdie's knee.  "Can we buy Mommy a new friend?"

Birdie looked at him quizzically.  "What do you mean?"

"Bobby was Mama's friend," the boy said.  "Since he moved away, she's been sad.  If she had a new friend, maybe she'd be happy 'gin.  And I could have a new daddy."

Birdie's eyes grew wide as she turned to Red to find out what to say.  He shrugged, telling her that he didn't know, so she simply changed the subject.  She lifted him down from the wagon.  "Let's go get yer momma a new purse too.  Okay?"

"Okay.  I'll pick it out."

Red piled his selections of leathers, rings, and tanning oils on the counter while Birdie decided what supplies she needed for the kitchen.  Joey examined every detail of each purse hanging on the pegs above him.  After he had chosen, he walked with his Aunt Birdie to Mr. File's house.  And Red headed for Pastor Smith's.  It was only eleven thirty, and he wasn't to meet Bobby until noon.

Pastor Smith answered the door with, "Is Bobby already here?"  Apparently the young cowboy had wired the preacher too, Red decided.

"No, not yet."

"Where's Melinda?"  Brother Smith's eyes scanned the area behind Red.

"That's what I needed ta talk to ya about," Red told him.  "She wouldn't come.  So do you mind comin' ta my place after we meet Bobby?  We'll have ta have the weddin' there."

"Good idea," the preacher agreed.  "I can't wait to see the look on Melinda's face.  What a surprise!  What a surprise indeed."

Bobby reached Point Blank's hotel a little before twelve.  He had timed his travel perfectly.  He would wash up quickly, change clothes, and then make a dash for the church.

I sure hope Red an' Melinda show, he thought as he lathered the lye soap between his hands.  He examined himself in the looking glass.  Good thing I shaved last night.  I don't have time to do it now.

When he finished cleaning up, he pulled out his pocket watch.  Time to go.  He all but ran downstairs and out the door.  His heart raced—from the exercise or the excitement he did not know.  But then it sank when he saw Red and the pastor standing on the church house steps alone.

Where was Melinda?  Was she inside the church?  Or did she not come?  Did Red tell her the plan and she refuse?  He ran faster.  He stopped in front of the two men, the questions in his eyes.

"Small problem," Red told him.  "Melinda wouldn't come ta town."

"Did ya tell her I would be here?" Bobby asked.

"Nope," Red replied.  "I didn't really know yer plans.  I assumed there'd be a weddin', but I wasn't sure.  I just tried to get her ta come on the pretense of buyin' 'er a new hat.  Didn't work."

"So," Pastor Smith added, "We're gonna go to her."

"You think she'll marry me?" Bobby asked.

"Are you kiddin'?" Red laughed.  "She's been lost without you."

"Bobby!  Bobby!  Yer back!"   It was Joey shouting and running toward them.  Birdie jogged to keep up.  Bobby scooped him up and held him close.  Joey hugged him tightly.  "You got a new hat," Joey observed.

"Ya wanna wear it?" Bobby asked.

The little boy nodded wildly.  Bobby lowered him to the ground and placed the grey Stetson atop Joey's curly hair.  "Does my momma know yer home?"

"No," Bobby replied.  "But we're goin' ta see her in a few minutes."  Bobby told the small group of people the happenings of the past few days since he left Point Blank.

"Let's s'prise Mommy," Joey cut in.

"Yes, sir!" Bobby laughed.  "You wanna ride with me, little buddy?"  Joey nodded again, causing the over-sized hat to fall down over his eyes.  Bobby pulled it up for him.  "Let's go then."  He turned to Red.  "See ya at the farm."

Bobby had to control his desire to push his horse faster.  It would be unsafe to run the stallion with little Joey behind the reigns.  In addition, Red, Birdie, and Bro. Smith needed to arrive at the house before he did.

Melinda set to work picking vegetables from the garden.  She was in the mood to cook.  She planned to make an elaborate meal for the family.  The preparations would take care of the day's idle time as well as get her mind off of Bobby.

The green onions were a nice size, and their aroma made her stomach rumble.  She recalled that she had not eaten any breakfast that morning nor supper the evening before.  She peeled the skin off the onion, snapped off the roots, and bit into it.  It tasted good—not too hot and a little on the sweet side.

She raised her head and gazed toward the north.  Red's wagon was coming.  Did they cut their trip short because I refused to go with them? she wondered.

She stood to her feet and wiped as much dirt from her hands as possible.  Her skirt was covered in soil as well.  Good thing I have on my own skirt today instead of Birdie's, she thought.  She hated to ruin her sister's clothes.  If I'm going to stay here any longer, I'm going to need to go home and get some more clothes.  Suddenly she had a strong desire to go home.  She wanted to be by herself, alone in her grief.  She wanted away from the bustle of the farm.

As she walked back to the house, the wind gusted, and her hair tumbled about her shoulders.  She'd been too preoccupied that morning to pin it securely.  She shrugged, and with her free hand, pushed an unruly lock away form her face.  In doing so, she smeared dirt on her forehead.

She pushed open the back door, tossed her basket of produce on the table, and collapsed into a chair.  She supposed she should put on a happy face for Joey's sake.  She sighed, practiced her fake smile, and stood.  She walked to the water pump, and filled a bucket in which to wash the vegetables.

She waited for the sound of footsteps at the door, but none came.  What could be taking them so long?  She was a little excited to see what new things Joey and Birdie had come home with.  And she would like to steal a handful of lemon drops as well.

When all the produce was thoroughly washed, she scraped the carrots.  Still her family had not entered the house.  Was something wrong?  She placed the knife on the table, pushed her new eyeglasses on her face, and headed for the barn.

Now the wind was blowing strongly.  It was a chore to keep her long hair out of the way.  A few times she had to stop, for she could not see where she was going.  She entered the barn and scanned the empty stalls.  No sign of them.  Then she heard voices outside.  She followed the sound.  Red and Birdie were sitting by the stables on a bench that Red had made last summer.

"Nice of you to join us," Birdie told her older sister.

"What do you mean?  And where's Joey?"   She looked around the yard.

"Joey?" Birdie repeated.  "Oops, I don't have him.  Red, I thought you had Joey.  Where could he be?"

Red shrugged.  "Don't know.  Maybe we left him in town."  They both laughed.

"That's not funny," Melinda snapped.  "Where is he?"

"I'm over here, Mama," a quiet voice said.

She turned in that direction.  "Where, Joey?"
"Over here, 'round the corner of the barn.  Com'ere."

Red and Birdie smiled at each other.  Birdie bit her lip.  She could not wait for Melinda's reaction when she found Joey and Bobby.

"Joey?" Melinda called again.

"Here, Mama."

When Melinda had disappeared around the corner of the building, Pastor Smith joined Red and Birdie.  He held his Bible in front of him, prepared for the ceremony.  "Joey?" they heard again.  And then Melinda screamed.

"She found 'im," Red chuckled.  "Bet everyone in town heard her holler."

Melinda stood motionless, fairly dumbfounded.  Was it true?  Was Bobby really there in front of her?  She blinked, expecting him to vanish any second.  She tried to say something, anything, but her tongue was tied.

Bobby lifted Joey down from his shoulders and placed his cowboy hat back on the little one's head.  "How 'bout goin' 'round ta yer Aunt Birdie?  I need ta talk ta yer momma."

Joey smiled at his mother and ran away.  They heard him laugh as Red's voice boomed.

Bobby stepped closer to Melinda, and took her hand.  She opened her mouth, and a puff of air escaped—but no words.

"I owe you an apology," Bobby said.  "I should've never left without talkin' ta you first.  An' I'm sorry I didn't even say goodbye."  He breathed in deeply and reached for her other hand.  "I left with the intention of never returnin'.  I knew it would be hard on ya, but I decided it would be better than you comin' with me an' getting' hurt.

"But some strange things happened after I left.  LeAnna's father spotted me in a little town 'bout half a day's ride from here.  He followed me 'til dusk an' I guess planned on killin' me while I slept.  But I never went to sleep.  Somethin' kept me awake.  The next day when I stopped for lunch, Bledsoe was tryin' ta sneak up on me an' ended up fallin' down the rocky hillside where I'd stopped.  He was hurt pretty bad, so I looked fer somewhere ta take 'im for help.  I found a house, but there was no doctor for dozens of miles in any direction.  The man who owned the house turned out ta be a retired judge an' had seen me on a wanted poster.  I told 'im my story, an' he believed me.

"The next mornin', we were gonna take Bledsoe ta town, but when he woke up, all he wanted ta do was kill me.  So the judge made him a deal.  They played poker.  If the judge won, Bledsoe would clear my name.  If Bledsoe won, he got ta take a shot at me.  While they were playin', the judge remembered somethin' and upped the ante.  If Bledsoe lost, he also had to turn himself in."

Bobby stopped for a breath, and Melinda who had stood in awe, listening to the story, suddenly realized how dreadful she must look.  She withdrew one of her hands and ran her fingers though her hair in an attempt to smooth the tangles the wind had so generously put there.  She noticed Bobby had stopped talking.  He was watching her every move.

"Why did LeAnna's father have to turn himself in?" she asked.  She belched quietly, a result of the onion she had eaten, and placed her hand over her mouth.  Her cheeks blushed.  "Oh, excuse me.  I'm so embarrassed.  I ate an onion from the garden.  I…"

He smiled and raised a hand to stop her.  "It's quite alright.  You even burp cute."

She giggled and asked her question again.  "Why did he have to turn himself in?"

"Maybe you should sit down for the rest," Bobby suggested.  "You're not gonna believe this."  He lifted her to the top run of the fence.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Bledsoe was the man who killed John," Bobby said quietly.  "He was the gambler."

"You're kidding?"  Her eyes grew wide.  "Is he in jail?"

"You could say that," Bobby said.  "The judge won the poker game, an' Bledsoe got angry an' started coughin' up blood.  The judge went ta hook up the wagon as ta git 'im to a doctor, but Bledsoe died before he got back."

"So are you still wanted for LeAnna's murder?" Melinda wondered.

"No," Bobby smiled.  "The judge is takin' care of it for me."

"Are you going to stay here then?"

"That all depends."

"Upon what?"  With one hand, she twisted her blowing hair into a knot and pushed her glasses up her nose with the other.

"It all depends," he said, "on…"  He pulled her into his arms and planted her firmly back on the ground.  He knelt on one knee in front of her.  "Depends on if you'll marry me or not.  Melinda Warren, will you be my wife?"

She gasped, and her breath seemed to catch in her throat.  Of course she'd marry him.  She didn't want anything more.  But once again she was speechless.  When the simple word would not come, she nodded her answer.

Bobby seemed to melt into the grass.  He honestly had not known whether she would say yes or no.  But now his worry was over.  Melinda had agreed to marry him.  He stood to his feet.  "Let's go, then."  He took her hand once more and pulled her beside him.

"Go where?  Where are we going?" she asked.

"To get married."

"Now?"  She stopped in her tracks.  "I can't.  I look horrible."

Bobby halted his steps and turned to her.  He smiled sweetly.  "You look more beautiful than ever."  He leaned toward her.

"Don't kiss me," she said.  "I smell like a giant onion."

"I don't care," he smiled and kissed her softly.  "Marry me now.  I can't wait another minute to have you as my wife.  I love you so much."

"I love you, too, but it will take awhile to make the arrangements anyway."

"The arrangements have already been made.  Pastor Smith is waitin' with Red an' Birdie."  He lifted her chin with his fingertips.  "Please."

She shrugged her shoulders and giggled.  "Okay."

He scooped her up and carried her past the corner of the barn.  "We're ready."  He continued holding her.

"Aren't you going to put me down first?" Melinda asked.

"Nope," Bobby replied.  "Seems fittin' ta be carryin' ya while we get married.  Isn't that all I've done the past week?"

Everyone laughed.

The pastor performed a short ceremony ending with the couple's "I do's."  Bobby kissed his new wife tenderly.  "I love you, Mrs. Lester."

Melinda's eyes twinkled at the sound of her new name.  "And I love you, Mr. Lester."

"I told you not to call me that," Bobby smiled.  She smiled back at him.

Red, Birdie, and Joey laughed and cheered, and Joey skipped to his momma's side.  "Can I call you 'daddy'?" he asked Bobby.

"I'd like that very much."

Melinda reached for them both.

"Mama," Joey added, "Do you remember that night when I told ya that I was prayin' fer somethin' an' you asked what it was an' I said it was a s'prise?"

"Yes, sweetie, I remember."

"I told you you'd like it," Joey said.

Melinda wrinkled her brow in confusion.  "Told me I'd like what?"

"My s'prise," the boy replied.  "This is my s'prise.  I was prayin' for a new daddy, an' Jesus answered my prayer the way He seen best-like."