The Texas Sheriff's Family Blessing (Testament Creek Book 2)

by Maya Stirling

  Before she paid for everything, Grace went to the children and let them choose some candy. Each of the children held a large paper bag while the owner of the mercantile filled it up with their preferred candies. Jack's eyes were wide with anticipation, as were Katie's.

  It was at times like this that Grace reminded herself the restrictions under which the children had been living during their brief lives. Having been brought up in relative comfort, Grace could hardly imagine what it would be like to not even have enough money to buy a piece of candy. She smiled as she observed the excitement of the children. It didn't seem to take very much for them to be happy, Grace reflected.

  Once the purchases were made, the children helped Grace take the bags out to the buckboard and load them onto the back. Once again, passersby slowed and watched as Grace and the children stacked the bags onto the buckboard. Knowing how gossip spread in town, Grace predicted tongues would be wagging about the children and the owner of the Circle T. Grace imagined that the doctor would have honored his obligations to keep Miss Hardesty's details private. So the townsfolk might not know too much about what had happened to bring the children and their companion to Testament Creek.

  Glancing across at the jailhouse, Grace felt an urge to go across to the other side of Main Street. Smiling at Jack and Katie who were munching on candy, Grace said: "Wait here, children. I'll be back in a moment. Promise me you won't wander off," she added firmly.

  Both children looked up at Grace and nodded. "We promise," Katie said.

  Jack nodded. "Promise, ma'am."

  Grace sighed. Maybe something useful had come out of yesterday's escapade, after all, Grace admitted to herself as she started to make her way across Main Street. Lifting her skirts, she stepped quickly across the dusty road, narrowly avoiding an oncoming buckboard.

  Grace knocked on the door to the jailhouse and heard a voice from inside telling her to enter. Grace pushed the door open and leaned her head inside the jailhouse. She saw the two empty jail cells. A man sat at the long table to the right of the room. She recognized Lucas White, one of Tyler's regular young deputies. He stood when he saw Grace.

  "Grace. What can I do for you?" Lucas asked coming around the desk.

  Grace held the door. "I just wanted to know what time Tyler left this morning. I know he's going to Austin with those outlaws."

  Lucas nodded and thrust his thumbs into the pockets of his jeans. "They left at sunrise, Grace," he said. "Tyler took twelve men with him. I don't think you have anything to worry about. Black's men were tied up like chickens for a roasting. They won't be causing any trouble for the likes of Tyler and his men."

  Grace asked herself if her concern was so obvious. "That's reassuring. When do you figure they'll be back?"

  Lucas tilted his head and thought for a moment. "They left early. Assuming there's no hitches, I reckon he'll be back by sundown at the latest." Lucas advanced toward Grace. "Maybe even earlier."

  She knew he was trying to be kind. Trying to alleviate her worries. Plenty could go wrong when prisoners were being transported.

  Lucas rested a hand on the door. He peered at Grace with a kindly expression. "He'll be fine, Grace. Don't you go worrying about Tyler Smith. He can take care of himself."

  Grace nodded. "You're right, Lucas. Thank you."

  Then she left the jailhouse and started across the road. The children were still standing by the buckboard. They'd kept their promises. At least that was progress, Grace told herself. They all got onto the buckboard and Grace drove it across town to the doctor's house.

  After she stepped down from buckboard, Grace reached into a small bag and handed the two bouquets of flowers to the children. "These are for you to give to Miss Hardesty," she told them.

  Jack and Katie took the flowers and looked, wide-eyed, at each other.

  When Doc Clanton opened the door he smiled when he saw Grace and the children. "Good morning," he said brightly and ushered them all into the house. The doctor grinned at Jack and Katie. "You both look splendid." Grace agreed with the doctor, although she'd already decided that the next shopping trip to town would be to buy some new clothes for the children. "I'm sure Miss Hardesty is going to be delighted to see you both," the doctor continued. "She's been asking for you all morning."

  Jack and Katie smiled at one another when they heard that.

  Grace glanced at Doc Clanton. Hope had told her that the doctor was cautious about the children's visit. But he wasn't showing that caution now. He understood this might be hard for Jack and Katie. He was trying to put them at their ease.

  Doc Clanton extended a hand to the three of them. "Come," he said and they followed him down the hall toward Mary Hardesty's room.

  Grace walked behind Jack and Katie. She rested a hand gently on their backs, guiding them slowly toward the room. The doctor halted at the closed door. He knocked and Hope opened the door.

  Hope smiled at the children and then turned and faced back into the room. "You have two visitors, Miss Hardesty," Hope announced quietly.

  Mary Hardesty's voice came from inside the room. "How lovely," Grace heard her say.

  Hope turned to the children and gestured for them to come into the room. The doctor remained in the corridor as Grace followed the children into the room.

  Grace's first impression of Miss Hardesty was that she looked much better than she'd expected. Mary Hardesty's eyes were bright and her face wasn't too pale. She looked rested. Obviously the doctor and Hope were providing good care. Miss Hardesty tried to sit up, but Hope gently advised her to remain lying on her back.

  The children walked to the bed, each clutching the small bouquets of flowers. When Miss Hardesty saw the children and the flowers, her eyes moistened with emotion. "Oh! Look at you two!" she gasped, clearly affected by the sight of the children.

  Hope glanced at Grace, a stern expression on her face. Although they'd wanted to allow the children to pay a visit, it was clear that the doctor and Hope didn't want Miss Hardesty getting too excited. She still had a long road to travel on her recovery. Gunshot wounds, even slight ones, were notoriously difficult to heal.

  Miss Hardesty reached out and took the flowers from the children. She inhaled them and then smiled at Jack and Katie. "You bought these for me? How kind."

  The children glanced at Grace and smiled. Buying the flowers had been a good decision.

  "We hope you're going to get better," Katie said.

  Jack nodded. "And real soon," he added.

  Miss Hardesty glanced at Hope. "Well. I'm doing my best."

  "You're in good hands," Grace offered.

  Hope smiled at Grace, as if to thank her for the compliment. "Miss Hardesty is getting better, children," Hope said looking at Jack and Katie. "I'm sure she's very happy to see you both here, today."

  "I am," Miss Hardesty agreed. "You've both brightened my day. But tell me, how do you like living up at the ranch?" she asked the children.

  Jack and Katie proceeded to tell Miss Hardesty all about their new life up at the Circle T. From time to time, Grace added a few comments. Above all she wanted Miss Hardesty to take comfort from the fact that the children were staying in a safe place. During the entire conversation there was no mention of the robbery, nor of the outlaws. Grace saw both Jack and Katie looking at Miss Hardesty's injured area with visible concern.

  After about fifteen minutes it was clear that Miss Hardesty was getting tired. Hope gently hinted that it was time for the visit to come to an end. Miss Hardesty and the children looked disappointed, but they accepted the need for the meeting to end.

  Before leaving the room, both Katie and Jack kissed Miss Hardesty on the cheek. That simple gesture triggered another wave of emotion in the woman. It was clear to Grace that Miss Hardesty had formed a strong attachment to Jack and Katie. The children's visit had achieved a great deal of good. As she ushered them out of the room, Grace thanked the doctor for agreeing to the visit.

  Outside, the children were quiet and seemed th
oughtful. Grace told herself that perhaps the visit had brought home the reality of their situation. There had been no mention of the future. No talk of how long it might be before Miss Hardesty would resume her journey west with Jack and Katie. Or even if that would be possible, given the seriousness of what had happened.

  There would be time for those conversations later, Grace told herself as she drove the buckboard away from the doctor's house.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  It had been a long ride, but they were almost there, Tyler reflected as he rode alongside his men. The trail they'd picked up a few miles back would lead them eventually to the outskirts of Austin. It stretched across the rolling hillsides, cutting through deep valleys and alongside a long river which meandered southwards toward the coast. Tyler gazed up ahead, trying to see any sign of their destination. Just outside Austin they'd find a military fort and a temporary jailhouse for the men in their care.

  It was early in the afternoon and the sun was high in the azure blue Texas sky. They'd left Testament Creek at sunrise. Tyler had hoped the early start would mean they'd reach Austin just after lunchtime. But there had been delays. A horse had stepped in a hole and had needed to be cared for. And, as they'd attended to the horse, one of the gang had made an ill-fated attempt at escape. Tyler had taken care of that himself, running down the man and catching him as he tried to cross the river. It had been a desperate attempt by a man clearly terrified by the prospect of justice.

  Black had complained for the entire journey. Since leaving Testament Creek, Black had let loose with endless tirades against Tyler and his twelve deputies. Tyler had ignored every word which had come out of Black's foul mouth. Clearly, the outlaw was feeling the pressure of his impending imprisonment.

  The gang of men rode surrounded by a circle of Tyler's deputies. As had been the case when they'd been captured, the gang were outnumbered two to one. Each one of Tyler's deputies was a man who he was sure he could trust with his life. They were men who were committed to making sure Testament Creek was a decent, God-fearing town. After the way the previous sheriff had tried to corrupt life in the town, it seemed the men of Testament had decided that there had been enough lawlessness. That was the reason Tyler had a list of men who'd volunteered to make themselves available, no matter what the circumstances.

  Tyler ran his gaze around the squad of men and grinned. He was proud of them. The Lord was shaping Testament Creek into a godly town. A place fit for families. A peaceful place where folks could live decent lives safe from harm. Evil had no place in Testament Creek. Tyler lifted his heart and offered up a prayer to the Lord, asking Him for the strength and wisdom so he could play his part in making Testament Creek into a town people would be proud to call home.

  When Tyler's mind drifted to thoughts of Grace, his heart warmed immediately. He knew she would be worried. He'd seen it in her eyes last night. But she was strong. She understood he had a job to do. Getting rid of Black and his men would mean life could return to some kind of normality.

  Part of that included Tyler's continuing attempts to court Grace. He knew he was courting her, even if she wasn't willing to admit it. Tyler knew Grace was trying to hold him at arm's length. She was a strong-minded woman with clear ideas about what kind of life she wanted. He understood she was still trying to get used to life on the ranch. Coming from Kansas City, like she had, Grace's previous life had revolved around working in a legal office. It couldn't have been a greater contrast to the way she, Hope and Prudence were living now. Inheriting the ranch had changed all their lives.

  Tyler smiled. If it hadn't have been for that inheritance he'd never have met Grace. Probably, he'd still be a deputy to the sheriff who'd been so corrupt.

  Grace had transformed his life in so many ways. Tyler thought about the future. He thought about what it might mean if he asked Grace to become his wife. Would she even accept his proposal? Right now, Tyler had to admit he wasn't exactly sure.

  He loved Grace. And he hoped she loved him. She'd hinted as much, but he still felt she was holding back from really committing herself to him. Just like always when he thought about such things, Tyler felt frustration clutch at him. Winning Grace was proving difficult. But he wasn't going to give up.

  Thinking about the kiss on the porch was enough to lift Tyler's spirits. After that he and Grace had spent a precious and enjoyable time inside the ranch house with the children. During his short visit, more than once, Tyler had allowed himself to imagine that he and Grace had children of their own. That Jack and Katie were, in fact, theirs.

  Even as he'd done so, he'd told himself that the children would be gone soon. That they had lives of their own to live. Miss Hardesty would recover soon and she would take the children onto their original destination.

  But that hadn't stopped Tyler and Grace acting like temporary parents to the two delightful children. Just before Tyler had left the Circle T, Lucia the housekeeper had come to him and said quietly that he and Grace would make perfect parents. That had made Tyler smile, because he knew that Lucia assessment was correct.

  If the Lord saw fit, Tyler was in no doubt that he would bless any union between himself and Grace. Tyler told himself he'd pray for that when he went to church tomorrow. He'd promised Grace he'd take her and the children to church the next day. It would be the children's first visit to the town's church. They'd told Tyler that they'd attended church while they'd lived in the orphanage. But Tyler knew that the church in Testament Creek was a very special place. The pastor was a fine man and he would make a strong impression on the children.

  A voice dragged Tyler's attention back to the moment. "Boss, there's the fort," one of the men said, pointing up ahead at the northern horizon.

  Tyler squinted his eyes. He saw the low structure and nodded. "We're there, men." He glanced across at Black and saw the man scowl. "Looks like you'll be having your beans and grits with a military guard tonight," he said to Black.

  Black grunted.

  Now that they were almost at their destination, Tyler's men sat high in their saddles, cradling their rifles and watching their prisoners with extra care.

  Tyler couldn't wait to get back to Testament Creek. And, most of all, he couldn't wait to see Grace again. He'd made his mind up.

  There was something special he wanted to ask her.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Hope returned from town late on Saturday, just before dinner was served at the ranch house. The children's appetite had returned after all the candy they'd eaten earlier that day. At the kitchen table, the talk was about their visit into town, and how happy they'd been to see Miss Hardesty again. Every time Miss Hardesty's name was mentioned, Grace saw Hope glance across the table at her. After a while, Grace concluded that Hope had something to say to her.

  After dinner, with the children up in their room, Grace and Hope settled down in the parlor. They sat next to one another on the long sofa. There was only one question Grace wanted to ask Hope.

  "Did you see Tyler before you left town?" she asked.

  Hope shook her head. "I didn't see any sign of him. There were no horses outside the jailhouse. I reckon there would have been if they'd returned from their trip to Austin."

  Grace frowned. She'd been thinking about Tyler all day, figuring he might come visit her before sundown. Outside, in the yard, darkness was falling. "I hope he's okay," Grace said.

  Hope laid a hand on Grace's arm. "I'm sure he'll be fine. You never know. He might even pay a midnight call."

  Grace scoffed. "Tyler wouldn't do that. He's too sensible."

  Hope lifted a brow. "I think Tyler could be quite romantic. If he put his mind to it."

  Grace felt her cheeks flush with heat. She was glad the soft light of the candles hid the changed color of her face.

  "How are you two getting along?" Hope asked.

  Grace sighed. "You know how things are between Tyler and I."

  "No. I don't," Hope insisted.

  Grace rolled her eyes. "Tyler seems
to have gotten it into his head that he's courting me."

  "Well, isn't he?" Hope asked sounding slightly incredulous. "I thought every one knows that he wants to ask you to be his wife."

  Grace gasped. "Hope! How can you say such a thing?"

  "Because it is true," Hope replied. "Everyone is saying it."

  Grace stared, wide-eyed, at Hope. "What are you talking about?"

  "Even Doc Clanton has heard the rumors. Some of his patients have been talking about it recently." Hope shrugged. "He reckons its only a matter of time."

  Grace breathed out a heavy sigh. "Why can't people just mind their own business?"

  Hope grinned. "They just want you and Tyler to be happy. What's wrong with that?"

  "Nothing, "Grace admitted. "I suppose." Then she thought for a moment. "Anyway. Things are complicated, right now."

  "You mean with the children being here at the ranch?" Hope asked.

  Grace nodded. "I don't know for how long they're going to be staying."

  "You're not thinking of sending them away," Hope asked sharply.

  Grace's brows lifted in a straight line. "Of course not. I couldn't do a thing like that. In any case, the children seem happy here for the moment. We'll have to wait for Miss Hardesty to recover before we know what will happen to them."

  Hope's gaze darkened. "There is something I should tell you about that, Grace."

  Grace squinted at Hope. Her friend looked worried. "Miss Hardesty?"

  Hope nodded. "I was talking with her today. After the children left. And Miss Hardesty was telling me some things which I find concerning."

  Grace felt unease twist in her middle. "What kind of things?"

  Hope glanced at the door to the parlor, and then lowered her voice. "Miss Hardesty was telling me more about where the children were going. And who was sending them there."

  "Where were they going to?"