Caught Between Love And Duty

by Clarice Mayfield

  As Martha saw their carriage and buckboard appear in the distance, she took off her apron and found a mirror to check her hair. “Good enough, I reckon,” she said to herself after adjusting the flaming red mane. She took a secret satisfaction in the fact that even now at age sixty there was not a trace of gray. It was true that she did pluck a gray hair out now and again, but nobody had to know about that. Ain’t no fancy colorin’ in there neither.

  She checked her new calico dress, smoothed out a couple wrinkles in it, and stepped outside to join Francisco, who was also waiting to welcome the party.

  “Hello the house!” David shouted as the buckboard and carriage pulled up in front of the veranda. He and Elias jumped out to grab a couple pieces of luggage from the back of the wagon and Francisco helped them unload.

  Martha approached the carriage to meet Emilia first as she was the eldest among their new guests and soon to be in-laws. “Howdy, I’m Martha Gainey.”

  “Hello, Martha. Pleased to meet you,” Emilia smiled, taking her hand as she stepped from the carriage. “We’ve heard so much about you.”

  “All of it good, I hope,” Martha joked with a grin.

  “Yes indeed,” Emilia replied, “you are a remarkable lady by all accounts, Mrs. Gainey. Thank you so much for your hospitality to Charles and Georgia these past few months.”

  “Oh, weren’t nothin’,” Martha said humbly. “C’mon in and set a spell; you must be tired after your long trip.”

  After introductions were made all around, Martha served up lunch and the party sat down at the dining table. “May I say grace, Auntie?” Georgia asked.

  “Of course, girl,” Martha replied, “go right ahead.”

  Georgia tapped her fork on her plate to get everybody’s attention. “Let’s bow our heads please, everyone, and give thanks for the safe journey the Lord has given Mama, William, and Elias.” When the room grew quiet she took a deep breath, closed her eyes and began. “God our Father, thank you so much that we are all gathered together at this table today. Bless dear Martha for preparing the food. We give you thanks that Mama and the boys had a good journey here to Sonora, and for your tender mercies that attended them along the way.”

  She opened her eyes for a moment and looked at Elias. He was sitting with his eyes closed and a smile on his face.

  “Thank you for good health, Father God; for the many blessings that you have lavished on the Warton and McCloud families lately; and for these next couple of weeks that we have to spend together and enjoy each other’s company. Amen.”

  After a chorus of ‘amens’ from around the table, Martha picked up a bowl of vegetables and passed them to Emilia. “Dig in, everybody!”

  * * *

  Blue Shadow stood in the cave, stretching his arm and shoulder. They felt good, for the wounds had healed well. Martha’s shotgun blast had only grazed him but some of the pellets had gone deep and it took a long time to mend. Now, he felt ready to do whatever must come next.

  “Soon it is time, little one,” he said, looking at the pigeon in its wooden cage. “Shadow will go see Broken Head and collect his pay. If he does not pay then the white chief is the one who will be paid – in blood.”

  He picked up the pencil and paper off the shelf and slowly wrote a message:

  You pay me now or Shadow pay you

  He looked at it for a moment, smiling, imagining Broken Head’s reaction when he read the message. He would be angry, confused, frightened if he knew what was good for him. Then there would be a visitor at his door and the debt would be paid, one way or the other. The renegade didn’t care which – for he would receive equal satisfaction from either.

  After folding the paper, Shadow opened the cage and gently took the bird out. He tied the message securely to its foot with a piece of string. Then – holding the creature with both hands – he threw it upward, watching as it took flight and disappeared through the hole in the cave ceiling.

  “Go quickly, little one. Shadow is ready now.”

  * * *

  “Holy Moses, that’s got a kick to it!” William exclaimed. He handed the Colt 45 revolver back to James and said, “Can my brother have a turn now?”

  At William’s excited request, the McCloud and Warton brothers had gone out to the Golden Lane shooting range the day after their arrival to try out some of the firearms they had read about in western novels.

  With a grin James handed the Colt to the elder Warton brother. “Ever shoot a pistol before, Elias?”

  “No, sir,” he replied. “Never even saw a real Colt before.” He turned the weapon over in his hands, examining it carefully.

  “There’s three rounds left in there. Why don’t you give it a whirl?”

  “Okay. Here goes.” For safety reasons, the shooting range was set up against a steep embankment a distance away from the ranch house. He lifted the revolver, braced his shooting arm with his free hand, and took aim at a homemade bullseye painted on a board. His first shot went just wide of the target.

  “Not bad for your first go,” James said. “Try it again. You got two rounds left.”

  The second shot was inside the target, and Elias’s third shot nearly hit the bullseye. “Good shootin’!” James said, taking the Colt and emptying out the spent shells. “I think you got the knack.”

  Elias smiled in appreciation at the compliment. “Thanks, James.”

  “You ever have to kill an outlaw, Sheriff?” William asked.

  “Yep, unfortunately I’ve had to do that several times in my years as a lawman.”

  “What was it like?” the boy asked innocently. Elias shook his head and rolled his eyes as if to say, ‘Don’t mind him, he’s just a kid.’

  “It’s a bad feelin’ when you got to kill a man,” James explained somberly. “I ain’t never enjoyed it, son. The only reason to do it is for self-defense or to protect someone else, that’s it.”

  “Georgia told us you killed one of the outlaws who kidnapped her,” the boy continued.

  “Yes. He drew on me and there weren’t no choice. It was either him or me. The poor kid wasn’t much older than you are, William.” James frowned at the memory of Jessie’s tragic death at the hideout.

  William looked at the Colt in the Sheriff’s hand. “Is that the gun that did it?”

  “Yes. And I sure wish that I didn’t have to do it. Like I said, it was either him or me. In a situation like that you got to shoot for maximum effect or you could be the one who’s dead.”

  William glanced over at his brother, who gave him a sad look; then Elias turned toward James. “It’s got to be one of the toughest parts of a sheriff’s job,” he said.

  “Sure is for me,” James replied, “‘specially when you got to shoot a youngster like that. It’s a sad thing to have happen. But I reckon that’s the world we live in, isn’t it boys? Bad things happen sometimes.”

  “Yes, sir,” Elias replied, “that’s the truth.” He swallowed hard, thinking of his recent years spent in Boston.

  “What do you do back home?” David asked, thinking he would lighten up the conversation a bit.

  Elias thought about the question for a moment and then said, “I was a drunkard.”

  “Oh...sorry to hear it. Noticed you said ‘was.’ Are you back on the wagon now?”

  “Yes, sir. For the first time really. It feels good to be sober again. Nearly forgot what it was like,” he smiled awkwardly.

  “Well, good for you, young man. That’s great to hear! It ain’t never too late to turn over a new leaf in life if a man’s got a mind to do it,” David said with sincere empathy. “I done had a battle or two with the bottle over the years myself. Ain’t that right, James?”

  “Yep. David here ain’t no stranger to turnin’ over new leaves. Hangin’ around saloons with them pretty women for hire got him hooked and he near drowned in the bottle. But now he just goes for the women.”

  “Hey, don’t give ‘em the whole of the story all at once, James. They’re gonna think their new
in-law is a rake! I ain’t perfect, boys, but he’s right: I got heavy into the booze and Martha and him helped me get sober. If a fat old cowboy like me can stick with it, so can you, Elias,” David winked. “Hang in there, son. It gets better as you go along.”

  “I believe it!” Elias smiled. “When I first got sober on the train it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. But it’s been getting better day by day. William here helped me do it. If it wasn’t for him, I don’t think I would’ve made it through.” He stretched out his hand toward his brother. “Thank you, Willy. I haven’t told you that yet.”

  William was a bit embarrassed by Elias’s confession of alcoholism to the McCloud brothers. At the same time, he was proud of him and thrilled at his brother’s appreciation for his help. He shook Elias’ hand. “It’s good to have you back again.”

  * * *

  In the Golden Lane kitchen Martha and Emilia were enjoying a mid-morning coffee. It was the first opportunity the two older women had to enjoy a private conversation together. They sat across from each other at the large oak-wood kitchen table.

  “This ranch and the country around it is absolutely gorgeous, Martha. You are so blessed to live here with your family.”

  “I can’t disagree with you there, Emilia,” Martha smiled. “I thank God every day that we live in this country. James and David’s father bought the property and started building the house with them, but he died before it was finished. The boys completed the building, put up the barn, and all the outbuildings too. It was a lot of work but they did a fine job.”

  “It seems very well built indeed. Seeing this beautiful place makes me feel all the more amazed that your boys offered to sell it in order to pay off the Warton family debt. We can never thank you enough for that. Please accept my most sincere appreciation and know that we will pay off your loan as soon as possible.”

  Martha nodded, moved by Emilia’s heartfelt gratitude. “Thank you kindly. Fact is, them boys is young enough yet to want to tackle building another spread, and I think they’re looking forward to it. They got some ideas to expand the business, too. So I reckon it’s gonna work out for the best for all of us.”

  “That is so good to hear. We were concerned that we might be imposing upon you by accepting the boys’ offer. We would never want to do it if that was the case. Thank you for setting my mind at ease about that, Martha. Charles will be so very glad to hear it too.”

  “No problem at all. Here in Texas, family looks out for one another, and we’re glad to help. Charles was very concerned about your health if the business fell into bankruptcy. He felt he could handle the failure but wanted to do everything he could to avoid disaster for your sake. That man loves you right dearly.”

  Emilia stared down into her coffee for a moment. “Yes, he does love me... even though I’m a very timid and fragile person. The fact is that I was born into a wealthy Boston family, Martha. I’ve never known anything else. He was concerned that penury would literally be the death of me. I’m ashamed to say it, but frankly I’m not so sure he was wrong. That’s how corrupted I’ve become by living in luxury all my life.” She stared down sadly into her coffee again.

  “We all have our weaknesses,” Martha said kindly. “Yours may be different than mine but Lord knows they’re all real. We ain’t holding nothin’ against you, gal. And like I says, the way it’s lookin’ is that everything’s gonna work out for the best. So chin up,” she smiled, “your daughter’s gettin’ married in a few days.”

  “Yes, you’re right,” Emilia said, looking up again. “We have much to be thankful for. I’m very glad those two young people found each other and fell in love. Even through a newspaper ad, of all things. It’s a near miracle, if you ask me.”

  “Yep. I think the Almighty had his fingers in the whole business, that’s for sure,” Martha said. “It’s been good for those two youngsters and both our families in the bargain. I ain’t seen James so happy in years. And I’ve taken quite a shine to your daughter myself, Emilia. She’s a fine young woman.”

  “Thank you,” Emilia said gratefully.

  “I seen her come into her own here in Texas. She’s really blossomed and the challenges she’s faced has brought out the best in her. You’ll see the difference, I’m sure.”

  Emilia sighed. “She had such a hard time of it in Boston in recent years. I despaired she would ever find her way in life. I can see the difference in her already, Martha. She’s her own woman now.” Suddenly tears welled up in the older woman’s eyes. “And we so nearly ruined her life by asking her to marry a man she hated... it was utterly selfish and foolish of us.” She began to cry. “We saw no other way out.”

  “It’s all right now,” Martha said, patting her hand. “We all make mistakes. And think of it this way: if you hadn’t asked Georgia to marry Mr. Bishop, would she and James have met?”

  “I don’t know... probably not, I guess,” Emilia said as she blew her nose with a silk handkerchief.

  “Exactly! So go figure, gal: mama and daddy’s mistake somehow led to their daughter’s blessing – and their own blessing too. And not only that, but it led to much good for a family out in Texas. It’s a holy mystery, if you ask me.”

  Emilia laughed through her tears. “Oh, Martha! I can see why everyone loves you so much. You’re amazing.”

  Martha chuckled too. “Well, not everyone loves me, deary. I put a few pieces of buckshot into a man this summer. I reckon he probably ain’t too sweet on me now.”

  23

  The next day the entire Warton family was invited on a horseback trail ride to see the west Texas Hill Country up close. David and James were their guides for the afternoon. So after a bountiful lunch served up by Georgia and Martha, they all got into the saddle and set out at a leisurely pace. It was fine late-summer day, not too hot, and a light breeze made it comfortable to be outside.

  Even Emilia, who was normally afraid of riding horseback, was persuaded by David to go along. He assured her that she would be given the very gentlest and well-behaved animal from the Golden Lane stable. Sure enough, after a few nervous minutes at the beginning, Emilia settled into the saddle and seemed to be enjoying herself immensely. “This is absolutely wonderful,” she smiled at David. “Thank you so much for convincing me to come along for the trail ride.”

  “I’m glad you’re havin’ a good time, ma’am,” he said with a nod of the head, playing up his cowboy persona a little. “We truly do enjoy showing folks around. It’s some of the most beautiful country you’ll find anywhere on God’s green earth, ain’t it?”

  “Oh, it truly is!” Emilia replied, taking a long, deep breath of fresh air.

  Up ahead of them a bit, Charles and Elias were riding side-by-side. They didn’t speak much for the first while; each considering his own thoughts and enjoying the scenery. After a mile or so Charles said, “It’s a magnificent countryside, isn’t it, son?”

  Elias looked at his father. “It sure is, Dad. There’s something to be said for the life of a rancher and a cowboy. It must be very hard work, but you get to enjoy the outdoors every day.”

  “Yes, indeed,” Charles replied, “it’s a good life. Did you know that your sister and I got to brand a couple calves one day?”

  Elias laughed. “You’re kidding me?”

  “No, I’m not,” his father chuckled. “They put us into a corral with a hot iron and we ‘smoked ‘em,’ as David put it. Georgia was amazing. She asked the hand to let her do it by herself. So he let go of the animal and she branded him right on the hip.”

  “Wow,” Elias said with surprise, “that doesn’t sound like Georgie. She’s really done well out here.”

  “Yes. She’s grown a lot, son,” Charles said proudly. “It’s been good for her.” They rode on in silence for a moment, then he looked over at his son and said, “I understand that the journey west was very good for you too.”

  “Yes sir, it was,” Elias replied. “I feel great. Haven’t touched a drop since Boston.�
�

  “That’s wonderful. I’m glad for you, Elias,” Charles said sincerely.

  Elias stared at his horse’s ears for a moment. “Thanks. William helped me make it through. Even stopped me from going into the bar car once on the train. He’s the one you ought to be proud of.”

  “I’m very grateful that he helped you, son, but don’t sell yourself short either. I’ve heard how difficult it is go sober. You did well. I’m proud of you.”

  “Thanks. Listen, I’m sorry for what I put you and Mom through over the years with my drinking. I was such fool about it and I treated all of you like dirt for so long.”

  “I’m not going to pretend like it wasn’t difficult, son. You know it was. But to hear you face up to it like that and make amends means a lot. Your mother is overjoyed at the change and so am I. I may not show it as much as her but believe me, it’s true,” Charles said, his voice wavering with emotion. “And know that we forgive you – right readily. We’re here for you, son.”