Big Easy (Cowboy Craze)

by Sable Hunter

  Jewel hung back, fighting the urge to push between the large men to reach the man who’d come to mean the world to her. Thankfully, she didn’t have to – for a few seconds later, the Blackhawk brothers parted, clearing a path at Easy’s insistence.

  “Excuse me, fellows.” His eyes locked with Jewel’s and he smiled. “Hey. Come here.”

  And that was all it took. He opened his arms and Jewel rushed into them. “I’m so glad you’re home. So glad.” She buried her face in his chest and cried.

  “Aw, don’t cry.” He kissed the top of her head. “Thank you for what you did for me. I know you’re the one who moved mountains to get me out.” Placing a finger under her chin, he raised her head and kissed her sweetly.

  “Awww,” was the collective response from his brothers.

  “Anybody hungry?” Hazel asked from the top of the stairs. “Jewel has prepared a feast!”

  “I am! Prison food sucks!” Easy announced loudly as he hugged Jewel to him. “What did you cook for me, treasure?”

  Treasure. Her heart soared at the familiar, now cherished, endearment. “Roast chicken with vegetables, shrimp creole, black eyed peas with bacon, crab stuffed potatoes, and a croissant bread pudding with bourbon sauce.”

  “Lord help, I love you, woman.” He gave her a big kiss as they walked through the door where Hazel was waiting for them. “Introduce me to your mother.”

  His off-hand declaration stole Jewel’s ability to speak.

  “Look at her, the cat stole her tongue.” Hazel laughed as she came to give Easy a hug. “I’m glad to meet you, handsome. My daughter thinks you hung the moon.”

  He returned her hug with enthusiasm. “Good to meet you, ma’am. I think your daughter is extraordinary.”

  His off-hand declaration of love left Jewel standing with her mouth open. Did he mean it like she hoped or was he just being happy?

  Jewel didn’t have time to think on it too much before Hazel herded them all to the table. This meal was as good as the last they’d shared, but a thousand times better because the one who’d been missing was now returned to them. The mood was jubilant, and the conversation centered around the elation they all felt over how things turned out.

  “When things started falling into place, it seemed like an avalanche,” Sam admitted. “It was that spell. What did you call it, Ms. Hazel?”

  “A prayer to St. Expedite.” She provided the name gladly as she passed Daniel the platter of crab stuffed potatoes. “He’s the patron saint to call upon when you need help immediately.”

  “When he grants your request, he expects a public thank you and a piece of Sarah Lee pound cake,” Jewel added with a laugh.

  “Store-bought pound cake?” Daniel asked with a laugh. “Wonder what he’d do for some of this scrumptious bread pudding?”

  “Here’s to St. Expedite.” Benjen raised his glass and all added their salute.

  “Here. Here.” Sam clinked his glass to Daniel’s, then to Jewel’s. “I’m just grateful for every miracle.”

  Easy sobered. “Me too. And talk about miracles. The only reason Truman Lawson came to stop those two guys from killing me was because he saw a light shining from my cell. And there was no light.”

  Benjen nodded. “He did say that. I told Jewel at the time how that reminded me of the light on the mountain. And the light that led me to Apple.”

  Easy looked at Jewel. “Did you tell them about Yuma?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “I thought about it, but I decided you would want to.”

  “Tell us what about Dad?” Daniel asked, his face full of concerned curiosity.

  Easy let out a long breath and averted his eyes, staring at the opposite wall. “This is hard.” He swallowed, then scraped his teeth over his bottom lip, a physical sign of his reluctance. “I know I’ve been an ass.”

  “Aw, surely not.” Sam laughed. “I didn’t notice.”

  Easy gave him a teasing evil eyed stare. “I know I’ve lived like a crazy man. I didn’t always hold up my end of things.”

  Daniel gazed at him soberly. “Listen, you’re our brother. You’ve never let us down, not on anything that matters. After the last couple of days, I thank God I’m sitting across the table from you now.”

  Easy cleared his throat, trying to dislodge the knot that was stuck there. “I guess you all realized that I carried a mountain of guilt around about Dad’s death. I blamed myself.”

  “Oh, Easy, dammit,” Benjen said. “You know it wasn’t your fault. You were just a kid calling his father to come rescue him. He would’ve never held that against you.”

  “I know that now,” Easy said slowly. “Because he told me so.”

  “He…what?” Daniel asked, slowly, hesitantly.

  Easy nodded toward Jewel. “I witnessed Jewel help a little ghost.” He chuckled at his brothers’ expressions. “She was just a little girl, stuck in the place where she died. Her mother moved away soon after she lost her daughter, not knowing her little spirit was left behind.”

  “Creepy,” Sam said as he listened attentively, his arms crossed over his chest.

  “You’d think so, wouldn’t you?” Easy murmured, then glanced at Jewel. “Tell them how you came to be involved with Eliza.”

  Jewel explained briefly to the brothers and her mother about Bernadette and her autistic son, finishing with an account of the day the woman brought Rudy to see her. “Not wanting to accept the therapist’s diagnosis that her child was psychotic because he was talking to someone who wasn’t there, she brought him to me for a reading. When they arrived, I was shocked to see they were accompanied by a small apparition.”

  Seeing the wonder on his brothers’ faces, Easy added his thoughts. “The whole thing was amazing.” His eyes brightened as he spoke with animation, “I could see her, guys. I talked to her. She…was just a little girl named Eliza. Jewel did some research to find out her identity and how she passed. Turns out the mother blamed herself for the little girl’s death. Jewel summoned the woman and reunited her with her child.”

  Jewel nodded. “You should have seen the pure joy on their faces. Eliza was no longer alone, and the mother was relieved of decades of guilt.”

  “Incredible,” Benjen muttered. “Just incredible.”

  “Yea.” Easy laid his fork and knife at the top of his plate. “After I saw Eliza and knew what Jewel could do, I asked her to summon Yuma.”

  “You what?” Daniel exclaimed. “Are you serious?”

  Easy scoffed. “Dead serious. He came. We talked. He was as real as you and me. And he looked good. Young. Strong.”

  “What did he say?” Sam asked, completely preoccupied with what his brother was telling them.

  “Please,” Daniel implored him. “Every word.”

  “I wish I’d recorded it.” Easy began speaking slowly, knowing what he said would comfort his brothers. “I told him I was sorry for what happened, then I almost lost it, questioning how his coming to me could even be possible.”

  “But…you’d seen Eliza?” Benjen asked, not following his reasoning.

  Easy laughed. “Yea. Right. This was different. This was our dad, standing before me in the black suit and moccasins we’d buried him in. He told me that he came because I needed him.” He dry-scrubbed his face. “And he was right. My guilt over his death was just consuming me, affecting every moment of my life. Every decision. I apologized to him. I told him how sorry I was that he died because of me. I asked him to forgive me. And do you know what he said?”

  Daniel nodded. “Yea, he said there was nothing to forgive.”

  His older brother’s reply stunned Easy. “How did you know?”

  “Because he’s your dad. He loves you. Simple as that.”

  “What else did he say?” Sam pressed for more, hungry for any word.

  “He said that he’s aware of everything that goes on in the family.” Easy chuckled. “He said, I’m dead. Not gone.”

  This comment made everyone laugh.

&nbs
p; “Oh, I asked him about the light on the mountain, Benjen. He confirmed that it was part of him, that he was guiding it.”

  “I knew it,” Benjen muttered. “I just knew it.”

  “Anything else?” Daniel asked, anxious to know everything.

  “I told him I loved him. I told him that I wished I could turn back time. Relive the day he died, so I could change the way things happened.”

  “What did he say?” Sam asked with tears in his eyes.

  “He said it was his time, but he would always be near. He promised we’d all be together again one day.”

  “Anything else?” Benjen urged him to say more.

  “He said that he and Mother love us always.”

  Daniel swallowed hard, then wiped his eyes. “Of course, she does.”

  “I begged him to stay, but he said this wasn’t his time or place…but that he would be with me through the storm. I touched him, as if to hang on to him. He was solid. Warm. Real. And…then he was gone.” As Easy finished his story, his voice wavered. He’d been looking down, remembering – now, his head jerked up as his eyes darted from face to face. “The light… The light Truman Lawson saw in my cell. The reason he came in time to stop those guys from murdering me. That was Dad…”

  Benjen smiled. “Well, of course it was. He said he’d be with you through the storm – and he was there.”

  Hazel reached over to give Jewel a hug. “You did good.” She kissed her daughter on the cheek. “I’m going to slip over to the kitchen and make a pot of coffee. This might be a long night.”

  Jewel hoped not. She really wanted a little alone time with Easy.

  “That’s quite a story, Easy.” Daniel studied his younger brother’s face. “How will it change you?”

  His brother’s query surprised Easy. “What do you mean?”

  Their exchange had everyone’s attention. Jewel realized this was a telling moment for the family. From what Easy had told her, there’d been an underlying tension between them for years, stemming from the loss of Yuma. She knew Easy’s actions and reactions to events in his life were colored by the blame he’d foisted on himself.

  Daniel smiled at his younger brother. “Well, are you going to accept that the ranch is as much yours as it is ours? You’ve lived there all your life…until now.” He waved his hand around, indicating their location. “Until you came here to work for somebody else. Yet, you’ve never planted yourself there, never acknowledged the hold that the land has on you. The history that was made there where the blood of our ancestors was spilled.” All this time, Easy wasn’t saying anything – he was just listening.

  Daniel continued. “You know we talked about splitting up the property. Are you ready to take responsibility for your birthright?”

  Still no answer from Easy.

  With a chuckle, Daniel leaned forward and crossed his arms on the table. “I mean, I don’t expect everything about you to change all at once. Certainly not your tom-catting ways, for sure. I mean you can’t disappoint the ladies. When you come home, half the female population of Llano and Travis County will probably throw a party.”

  Daniel kept speaking, seemingly oblivious to the tense silence that descended upon the people gathered together. “I’m sure you’ll meet the right girl someday, but that’s not important now. What’s important is that you forgive yourself and get back to the business of living.”

  Jewel found herself sitting on the edge of her seat, her heart pounding. What would Easy say?

  Easy stared at Daniel. Since Yuma was killed, it was natural that his older brother take over the reins of the family. Step into the patriarch’s shoes. He appreciated that Daniel loved him, would die for him. Easy also knew the strain he’d been under knowing his younger brother was in trouble and not be able to do anything about it.

  For those reasons, he tempered his response. Now, was not the time to ignite any family controversy. He glanced at Jewel, aware of the tightness around her mouth, the rigid set of her shoulders. There was so much he wanted to say to her. She’d brought him untold happiness – and he wasn’t about to give that up. But he also didn’t want to have that conversation in front of an audience. Yes, she’d said she loved him – but he also couldn’t forget how they’d begun. Her reservations. What she’d seen in his palm. Easy bit the inside of his cheek to keep from shouting at his brother. “I do look at this as a new lease on life. And I do intend to make some changes for the better.” He briefly turned his gaze to Jewel again, trying to convey a message to her. “As much as I love all of you.” Easy let his eyes move from brother to brother. “I’m not ready to come home. Yes, I can’t deny that I left to find myself. Find peace. And I feel like I’ve made untold headway – with help.” His eyes met Jewel’s again. “I’m not saying that I’ll be gone for long…but I have to see this through.” He chuckled wryly. “My reputation for commitment might not be the best, but a man has to start somewhere. Right?” His gaze returned to Jewel’s as he tried to convey more with his words than he was saying. He fully intended to tell her how he felt, to pour out his heart, to convince her he wasn’t the same man she’d met in the beginning. No doubt, Jewel had changed him – for the better. Yet, he wanted to do it right. He wanted this all-important moment to be special. Romantic. Meaningful. Confessing his feelings in front of his family wasn’t the way to do it.

  “I understand what you’re saying, Easy,” Sam told him.

  “Well, I certainly think Philip would understand your leaving. After all that’s happened, I don’t see why you’d be so anxious to stay in a place where you went through hell – for nothing.” Daniel was not shy about voicing his opinion.

  Jewel was just about to stare a hole in the tablecloth. The Blackhawk brothers’ exchange was making her decidedly uncomfortable.

  “Hey, why don’t you help me in the kitchen?”

  Her mother’s whisper broke the spell. Gratefully, she nodded and rose to gather her own dishes and make her escape.

  “You and Easy need to have a talk,” Hazel murmured softly. “I can read the emotions flowing off you both, you’re on the same page. Believe me.”

  Jewel raked a few bits of food into the disposal, setting it to whir softly while the water ran. When the noise shielded her voice from being heard by the others, she caught her mother’s eyes. “I don’t want magic to have anything to do with mine and Easy’s relationship. Nothing.”

  Hazel held up both her hands as if in surrender. “I didn’t imply I would interfere. You know how I feel about that. Remember though, there is nothing more powerful than love. Love is magic. Plain and simple.”

  “Please. If something happens between us, I want it to be natural. Normal.” She looked over her shoulder to see that the men were still in deep discussion. They didn’t appear to be arguing, but they didn’t seem to be celebrating either. “I wanted tonight to be happy for him. How can they think of anything other than how wonderful it is for him to be free?”

  Hazel soothed Jewel’s hair, pushing a lock over her shoulder. “Don’t judge any of them too harshly, this has been a very emotional experience. Family dynamics are sometimes hard to understand by an outsider.”

  Outsider.

  Yea, that was the problem. She was an outsider.

  And she didn’t want to be. She wanted to belong – to Easy.

  Ring! Ring!

  Hearing the phone, Jewel hurried across the room to find the receiver. Her blood pressure rose and her pulse raced. So much had happened, it was hard for her not to expect something to be wrong.

  “Hello?”

  “Yes, this is Apple Blackhawk. Would my husband, Benjen, happen to be there please?”

  “Yes, he is. Hold on one moment.” Turning to face the men, Jewel held the phone out to Benjen. “It’s your wife.”

  “Oh!” Benjen looked surprised. “Considering the sketchy cell service in these parts and not knowing where we’d be, I gave her your number. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Of course not,” J
ewel told him, stepping back. She saw that Daniel, Sam, and Easy were watching Benjen closely to see if they could tell what was going on.

  “Seriously?” he exclaimed. “Well, that’s wonderful. Yea, I’ll tell him.” Benjen looked over at Daniel. “Tell Sara we’ll be there as fast as we can get there.”

  By now, Daniel was on his feet. “What’s going on?”

  Benjen hung up the phone. “Sarah’s in labor.”

  “Is she okay?” His face was a mask of concern. “Should I call her back.”

  “She’s fine. They’re on the way to the hospital. You’re about to become a daddy.”

  “Whoop!” Daniel raised his fist in delight. “Grab your gear guys. We’re heading west. The love of my life is having my baby!”

  Things were hectic for the next half hour as Easy saw his brothers off. “Thank you, guys. Thank you for everything.”

  The Blackhawk brothers took a few moments to say goodbye to Jewel and her mother. Sam, especially, made sure they knew how much the men appreciated what they’d done for his brother. Gone was the tension displayed during their discussion. Now, everything was bright and joyous. A new life was about to come into the world. A baby the whole family would love.

  “You just take care of yourself, Easy.” Daniel hugged his brother hard.

  “I’ll drive in this weekend and meet my nephew or niece. Okay?” Easy swallowed the lump in his throat.

  “You’d better.” Daniel poked him in his chest. “That little boy or girl will be wanting to meet their uncle Easy.”

  Next, he hugged Benjen. “I appreciate you so much. Just knowing you all were near made everything bearable.”

  “And Yuma, don’t forget him.” Benjen looked his brother in the eye. “I’ve heard about something being your guiding light…and he’s ours.”

  “Definitely.”

  Lastly, Easy turned to Sam to shake his hand, then pull him close. “I appreciate everything you did for me.”

  “Hey, we didn’t do anything,” Sam whispered. “We were just here for you. Zane came through for you and so did Truman Lawson, but the person you’d best be thanking is Jewel. I’ve never seen anyone so committed to helping someone than she was to helping you. I do believe she could’ve turned the world upside down for you if it would’ve done any good.”