“Think they’ll be back?” Levi asked.
“Don’t think so,” Davis said
Clay stared straight ahead. “Coe will. One day when we least expect him, he’ll ride this way again.”
“Why?” Levi asked. “There’s nothing for him here to find now, if he believed Davis.”
Luke gave his cousin a pat to the back. “One day, he’ll hear different and figure we got the best of him. He’ll come riding back and we’ll be waiting.”
“I don’t know,” Davis said. “I don’t think so. Marshall Coe almost got away with the perfect crime and then it backfired. Sometimes when a person has to look at their demons and meet them head on, they get so scared, they start running the other way and they never look back.”
“So you think he’s had a change of heart and he’s ready to become a better man?”
“I never said that, Clay.”
“I’d never want you to believe it. Remember, I knew the man,” Emily stated.
“Oh, that reminds me,” Davis smiled. “I have some news for you, Emily. Clay here said you blacked out when those men attacked you and that you never could figure out whether or not you were raped.”
Emily grinned. “Oh, I know I wasn’t raped.”
Clay, Luke, and Levi stared at her blankly.
“I had to figure out a way to stop all the games and I just figured playing doctor would move things along.”
Clay’s lips curved in a smile. “I knew it.”
“You rascal woman, you,” Levi said as he poked her in the ribs.
Luke rubbed his chin. “You had him check you out though.”
“Well yeah. I had to choose one of you.”
“Why’d you choose him?” Levi inquired.
“He was the only one dumb enough to fall right in between a woman’s spread legs without asking a whole lot of questions.”
They all laughed and Levi pointed at him. “For once, I’m not the dumb one.”
Clay chuckled. “Oh, but you are, cousin. I took the first peek at Emily’s hidden treasure.”
“And you found gold there, huh?” Davis asked.
“A lot of it,” she reminded with a wink.
“You’re spanked,” Luke told her.
“I hope with four strong fellas around, I’m more than spanked.” She lifted her skirts and ran for the house. She was wanted by outlaws and even the Marshall qualified as one now when he was in their bed. She had a good feeling, he’d visit there a lot.