Chapter Eleven

Victoria sat in the living room stunned beyond measure as Heath and Maggie stood in the living room and told everyone they were not only engaged, but intended to be married by nightfall as well. "And don't say anything Eugene and Jarrod not being here." Knowing his mother would want all members of the family present when he and Maggie married, Heath said as he held up a telegram. "I received this telegram this morning in response to one I sent yesterday." He handed the telegram to his mother.

Victoria took the yellow paper from her stepson and read it out loud.

Don't trust Hamilton brothers. STOP. Don't wait on marriage . STOP. Marry Maggie NOW STOP. Can have reception later STOP. Eugene will understand. STOP. Jarrod and Laura STOP

How could her oldest encourage such a fast wedding? Victoria wasn't sure, only she was more than sure when it came to what her second son would do if she put any obstacles in his blonde haired brother's way. It was hard not to know with Nick sending her a very clear message, even if it was simply with the harsh look that appeared in his eyes when she started to object. One that said, "If you do to him what you did to me, I will move out and never speak to you again."

"I will assume you have sent for the reverend then?" Victoria quickly changed the words she was going to say as she handed the telegram back to Heath with a smile upon her face, even if it was partially forced.

"Yes, McColl went to get him and his wife, along with Fred." Heath, who had his arm around Maggie answered. His intended and the sheriff's wife had become rather good friends in spite of the age difference. Heath and Maggie couldn't see exchanging vows without the Maddens present.

"Then I guess we best at least get you a banquet of flowers to hold during the ceremony." Victoria stood up and hurried out of the living room.

"You need something borrowed and something blue." Excited, Audra stood up and insisted that Maggie follow her upstairs and into the attic. That left Nick and Heath to talk by themselves.

While Heath had been looking at Victoria as he spoke, he had also caught the look Nick had sent their mother when he, Heath, glanced out of the corner of his eye. He appreciated his brother backing him up. "We had intended to wait until Jarrod and Laura came home." Heath said as he sat down on a chair that sat next to table that sat in the living room. "Only, after getting Jarrod's message, we decided we best listen."

Nick grinned and sat down on the other side of the table. "He probably figures the sooner the better. Besides, the way those two are going, I think they're honeymoon just might last the rest of the year." That idea made both brothers laugh before Nick gave Heath a questioning look. "What are the two of you going to do for a honeymoon? The hearing is in five days, and we all have to be there."
Heath looked towards the stairs that led to the rooms upstairs and then back at Nick. "I want to take her to the lodge, only I'm not sure that's the best idea either. It would take a couple of days just to get there, and that's if nothing happens. Top that off with a couple days back," Heath said as he turned up his hands, his frustration showing, "I want to give her more than a one day honeymoon."
Nick didn't blame him there; he would've wanted to do the same for Iris. However, before he could offer any ideas, he caught a movement outside the window. Needless to say, Heath was shocked when Nick whipped out his pistol and ran to the side of the window. It made it so he pulled his own and jumped to his feet. "What is it? Who is it?"

"I don't know, but I intend to find out." Nick turned and ran to the front door, stopped and opened it slowly; Heath was right behind him. Looking from one side to other, Nick saw nothing, but he knew someone was outside. He didn't like it. However, again, before either one could say a word, they heard Audra and Maggie screaming. Both brothers bolted up the stairs faster than lightening.
A rather thin, browned haired gentleman who appeared to be around thirty was just starting to enter the home through the open window when Nick and Heath rushed in. The stranger cursed and quickly exited. By the time Nick and Heath ran to window, the man was already almost to the ground. Heath turned and ran out of the room while Nick aimed his pistol and pulled the trigger, making sure all he did was wound the stranger. After all, one, the man hadn't fired first and two, a dead man couldn't talk, and Nick wanted to make sure this was one man who did just that!

"Keep these windows shut and locked! In fact, keep all the windows to the house shut and locked!" He ordered as he shut the window, locked it and ran out the door.

While Maggie and Audra were shook up, they did laid the jewelry they'd been going through aside and started doing as Nick had told them too.

~oOo~

Fred Madden, who had arrived with his wife, stood in the living talking to Nick and Heath while Dr. Merar worked on their uninvited guest up in the guest room. The lawman's deputy was upstairs in the bedroom with orders to stay there unless Fred or one of the Barkley men relieved him while the women had disappeared into the kitchen at Fred's request. None of them had argued, as Victoria had pointed out that, with Silas away visiting family, it would be a good time for four women to work on getting something together to eat after the marriage too place. The current incident had only cemented into Heath's mind that one, he and Maggie needed to be married and two, they needed to have some of the men guarding the place.

"Not exactly an environment one would want to have a wedding in," Fred gave Heath a sympathetic look before turning to Nick, "Was shooting the gentleman really necessary?"

Half of Nick couldn't believe Fred had just asked that; the other half knew the man had to. "He would have gotten away if I hadn't. As it is, Heath admitted he almost didn't get the man and that the wound I inflicted upon the gentleman was what made it possible for him to be caught." While Nick wasn't yelling, his volume was up a bit. "And no matter what he says, I don't believe him!"

"I don't know!" the stranger who would only give Nick and Heath the first name of Robert as they forced him to his feet, in spite of the bullet in his leg. "All I know is I found an envelope with five hundred dollars in it and a note. It said if I came here, and kidnapped Maggie and took her back to my place, there would be another five hundred dollars waiting for me when "he" came to get her."

"What kind of man…" Nick started to explode only to have Heath stop him.

"I don't know that I do either, but there's no way to prove he's lying. Now," Fred again looked at Heath in sympathy, "Is the marriage still on or are you going to wait?"

While Heath knew he'd make sure Maggie and he had a more traditional wedding later, he wasn't about to change his mind. "It's still on." Heath said as he excused himself saying he was going to talk to Victoria and Maggie.

Nothing more was said between Fred and Nick, though Fred could tell, that both Heath and Nick meant to have some answers one way or the other. Fred just hoped his friends would be careful. He had enough drama in town without adding anything else to it.

~oOo~

*A/N pre wedding….attempted kidnapping….marriage is still on…I think this muse needs more help than I can give her. LOL