THE OUTLAW'S THANKSGIVING Read Free Page A

take the blame all
these years and he didn’t want to die with that on his conscience.   You wouldn’t happen to be Markus Cole Drake,
would you?”
           Markus froze.   He didn’t know what to say.   Could this lady be trying to trick him into exposing himself for who he
really was, or was she telling the truth.   He looked at Katie, who smiled at him.  
           “I knew you looked familiar!   Those eyes.   How could I ever forget, but with that beard, it was hard to tell.”
           “Is it true, Katie, what she says?”
           “Yes,” she reached over and took hold of
his hand.   “Uncle Matt told me all about
it and said he wished he knew where you were to let you know and he put the
word out you were innocent.”
           “I can’t believe it,” he said, looking at
Katie and then her grandma.
           “Believe it son.   You were wrongly accused.   Why your Pa was so happy, doc said it was
like a miracle that he made a complete recovery.   He thinks all the years of worrying over you was what was making
his sick.”
           “Then Pa is all right?   I got a letter about a month ago and Jake
said he was dying.   It’s why I was
trying to get home before it was too late.”
           Katie squeezed his hand.   “He’s a lot frailer than he used to be, but
doc figures now that he’s eating good, he’ll be as good as new in no time.   Seeing you will just make him all the
better.”
           “I wish I were able to ride over there
right now.”
           “Finish eating.   I’m sure that Uncle Matt will take you home after Thanksgiving
dinner tomorrow.”
           “Maybe I can clean up some too.   Get rid of this beard.   I hate it.”
           Katie turned her head this way and that,
staring at him.   “Why not just trim it
up?   I like it.”
           “You do?”
           Katie nodded and smiled.   “Let’s finish eating and let me get the
cooking done.   We got a lot to
celebrate.”   As she began clearing the
dishes from the table, she couldn’t help but glance at Markus.   She’d never told anyone that she always
liked him and it had broke her heart when they said he robbed the bank.   She never really believed it happened that
way, and was thankful his cousin had the decency to clear his name before he
died.   She took her grandma’s plate and
didn’t miss the wink her grandma gave her.   Katie smiled and thought this the happiest Thanksgiving ever.
    ***
           A couple weeks had passed since
Thanksgiving and Katie was glad that Markus’s father and brother were so happy
to have him home again.   His Pa’s health
continued to improve and Markus had visited her almost every day.   She saw him ride up through the window and
ran to open the door.   Her grandma was
napping so they had some privacy.    “Come in,” she said, “and give me your coat.   I’ll pour you a cup of coffee and give you a piece of the spice
cake I made today.”
           “I came to talk to you,” he said, taking
off his coat and handing it to her.  
           She hung it up on the peg on the back of
the door.   “Anything wrong?”
           “Katie, I’ve waited to start my life for
a long time and I don’t want to wait any longer.”   He took her hands in his and pulled her over to the couch to sit
beside him.  
           “What is wrong?   Is your Pa all right?”
           “Pa is just fine and happy at the thought
of grandchildren.”
           “Grandchildren?   What are you talking about?”
           “Us.   I always liked you in school, and I think I fell in love with you the
night you took me in and patched me up.   I don’t know how you feel about it, but I am hoping you will marry me on
Christmas Eve at the church in town with everyone there.   We can have the reception at the hotel.”
           Katie’s mouth fell open and she