THE OUTLAW'S THANKSGIVING by Cia Leah Page B

she
grinned, finishing taking the pies out of the oven and sitting them on the
table.   Once she had that task done, she
went and checked on her grandma, who was sleeping soundly.  
           Thank goodness, she thought, going to her
room to get ready for bed.   It’d been a
long day, and she was tired.   Her days
started before sunrise.   She quickly
undressed and pulled her nightgown on.   When she settled into bed and turned the lamp down low, she thought of
the man in the next room.   Who was he
and had he really told her the truth about what happened to him, or was he an
outlaw on the run from bounty hunters and the law?   She hoped not because she liked him right off for some reason she
couldn’t quite figure out.   It was
almost like she knew him, but that was impossible.   “Sleep,” she whispered to herself.   “Daylight’s only a few hours away.”
    ***
           Markus found it hard to sleep with his
head hurting and the pain from the stitches.   He hoped he felt well enough to get on his horse and leave in the
morning, or at least by noon tomorrow.   He couldn’t stay here, even though he sure would like to stop and rest a
spell.  
           The only reason he returned home was he
heard from his brother that their Pa was ailing and wanted him to come home and
see him before he died.   Jake’s letter
reached him more than a month ago and he prayed he wasn’t too late.
           Markus felt bitter over the turn of
events that led him to be a wanted man.   If it weren’t for his cousin, Butch, he’d be a free man.   He’d never guessed that Butch was wanted for
robbing the bank.   It was ironic that he
and Butch looked so much alike, that the Marshall in town and the posse thought
it was Markus.   When they showed up at
the house, his Pa had Jack take him out the back door to the barn where Jack
had given him some money, ammunition and food and told him to ride hell bent
for leather and they would let him know when it was safe to come home.   It never worked out that way.   The posse didn’t believe his Pa and soon
there were wanted posters with his name on it all over the place with a five hundred
dollar reward.
           Markus sighed heavily.   “For years he was on the run.   He tried finding Butch, but every time he
got close, he lost him.   In some towns,
Butch had robbed stores and ranches he’d worked for.   Several times, Markus had to hightail it out of there.
           Another thing, he was tired.   So weary of the running, so weary of not
being home, so weary of not being able to build a life of his own.   He’d always wanted to settle down, get
married, and have a passel of kids.   That thought made him smile and he thought of Katie.   She’d make someone a fine wife.   Even when she was young and they were in
school, he had always liked her.   She
never got into any scrapes with other girls, never had a bad word to say about
anyone, and always helped the teacher with kids who didn’t do well in their studies.
           She’d grown into a fine looking woman too
with her long auburn hair and green eyes.   She wasn’t skinny or fat, but built like a woman should be in his
estimation, and she was tall.   And she
could cook too.   The apple pie she’d
served him was delicious.   The crust
just melted in his mouth and the apples tender with just the right amount of
cinnamon.   The house smelled so good and
he could just imagine what Thanksgiving dinner would taste like.
           The thought of being here near his own
home, made him want to get up and ride for his Pa’s place, but he knew he
wasn’t able yet.   Praying that tomorrow
he’d feel up to it helped his mind to ease somewhat and he settled back and
fell asleep.
    ***
           Katie woke when the rooster crowed.   She jumped out of bed, washed off in the
basin of clean water she put there yesterday, and dressed.   When she went out to the kitchen, she