The Big Dipper and North Star. Orion’s belt. The Seven Sisters. His father had been a seaman before going west and taught him the constellations and how to reconnoiter your position by the sun and the stars. Skills he’d used often while hunting dangerous men.
His father wouldn’t be very proud of him. He’d quit the sea to become a preacher and led his family from one place to another. They lost his mother and sister to the Comanche when he was fifteen.
Father stoically called on the grace of God to forgive the savages and began a ministry to the Indians.
That’s when Rand had left. He couldn’t take any more sacrifice as his father called it. He’d drifted about working odd jobs wherever he could find them. Then the war between the states broke out, and he joined the cause.
He shook his head. Why did he always pick the losing side? But being a soldier had taught him how to shoot and shoot well. He had a skill. Then the war was over, there was no need for a fast gun and sure shot.
A shooting star blazed over the sky. He smiled and recalled the night he and Susanna had slept under the stars. They’d seen a falling star just like that one. Was it a sign from her? She’d said she was only leaving earth to live in heaven. Begged him to live until he too would be able to join her. She’d told him often enough he needed to repent and believe.
His father had preached such things. He’d believed when a small boy. But too much death and blood had wrestled away his faith. He couldn’t believe anymore. Hadn’t in some time. Yet, Susanna’s dying plea kept him alive.
Rand had thought about ending it all, but the tiny whisper of hope that he could see Susanna again kept him from doing it. Since that night, he’d lived between life and death. Until Rose came. She’d made him put down the bottle and do something other than languish in guilt and loss.
He whirled at the sound of soft footsteps behind him. It was her. Rose. “What do you want? Not wise to sneak up on somebody.” He wanted to add on the hunt, but he wasn’t. Not really.
“I couldn’t sleep.” She pulled her blanket around her. “How did you know you were in love?”
He stared at her. The question bored hard and right into him, piercing his heart.
She glanced skyward. “It’s so dark.”
Still trying to make sense of her question, he said the first thing that came to his mind. “Makes the stars brighter.”
“Yes, yes it does. How did you know you were in love with your wife? … If you don’t mind me asking.” Innocence marked her face.
Rand stared at her. A harlot marked in innocence, that was a sight to think about. At first, anger fired in his chest, then he heard a night bird sing. Susanna had loved them, and Rose was just asking a question.
He leaned against a boulder and thought of Susanna. “I was riding through Nacogdoches, Texas, right after the war. I was sick of blood, killing, and trying to survive the day. But the war was over. Just over. I had nowhere to go. No one to go to. Then I saw her. Susanna walking through a field of bluebonnets. She wore a peach colored dress and had a blue scarf around her neck. She was singing. Lost in her own world.” He stopped.
Rose was near him. Nearer than he’d thought. She put a hand on his arm. “Please, go on.”
“Susanna always said when she sang, it was like she was entering a church no one could see but that she could feel. I couldn’t move. Even my horse, Black Jack, stood as if he was frozen.” He put his head back on the hard surface of the rock, drinking in the memory of that day. “Susanna took my breath from me. I couldn’t think or move. Finally, I got enough breath in me to go to her and ask who she was.”
Rose’s eyes shone in the dark night lit up only by stars. “And?”
“I asked who she was. Told her my name.” Even now, he could see the smile on Susanna’s lips as she talked to him in that sweet voice she had only for him. Rand only saw her. Susanna was all he could think about now as the feelings of that day flooded back to him. “I’d lived without hope for four years during the war and even before. But the day that I saw Susanna, hope was born in my heart. It was like I was alive because of her.” He couldn’t go on but stopped and relived the moment.
After several minutes of silence, Rose spoke up. “Did she love you the same way?”
He nodded.
“Did you marry right away?”
Rand felt the embers of the hope in his heart flicker as he thought back to that sweet time. “We married in a month. Her parents were against us marrying. Said I was no good.” The brief hope inside him dimmed. “They were right. If Susanna had never married me, she’d still be alive, today.”
Rose touched his back. “You can’t say that. If she loved you the way I believe she did, she wouldn’t want you to ever think that way.”
He turned and stared at her. She was too close to him. He backed away while at the same time, she stepped away from him.
She went back to the camp. “I love Ben the same way you loved Susanna. Except I haven’t even met him yet. But his letters. I know he loves me, too. Do you think that’s peculiar?”
Rand shook his head. “No. I’m sure he loves you. Ben is a good man.”
She looked down. “I know what I used to be, but I’m not anymore. That Sunday when I heard Jesus call my heart and I got baptized, it was like I came out of the water a new person. Ben understands that.”
Rand only stared at her. He’d known that feeling once years ago. But too much had happened. The hardships of life had beaten it out of him. Not knowing what to say he turned away from her and went back out in the clearing. He looked at the stars, thought of Susanna, and how far he’d fallen from the grace he’d once known.
He glanced back at Rose. She was on the bed he’d made her. Sleeping. She must be exhausted, but she’d never complained. Only talked about how wonderful Ben was and how happy they’d be. He hoped her journey ended well.
Chapter 7
Rose struggled to keep from waking. Ben had found her. Together, they were walking in a garden of roses and flowers she’d never seen before. The fragrance was heavenly. But it was Ben who held her attention. He kissed her once. So tenderly and full of love.
“Time to get up.” Rand’s gruff voice chased away the wisp of her dream.
Now awake, she glared at him. The sun wasn’t even up. “It’s still dark.”
He pointed to the east. “Sky’s lightening. Let’s go. Pansy’s saddled and ready.”
She threw off the blanket and stretched. Then thought about Ben. He wasn’t with her. That had been a dream. Had something happened? Had Rand seen the outlaws? She jumped up and ran to the horses. Rand was already on Black Jack and held out Pansy’s reins to her.
She took them and climbed on her horse. “Did you find out where they are?”
He grunted and took off at a lope, but instead of riding out in the meadow, he took a trail that led them to a road. She stared at his back. What was he up to? He hadn’t said a word to her. Not that that was unusual except for the brief moment last night when he’d shared about his wife. Remembering, her heart softened toward the ornery, bounty-hunter, gardener. She laughed to herself. What a combination.
She jabbed Pansy and caught up to him. “Where are we going? Why did we leave the trail?”
He grabbed her reins. “We’re going to Gainesville. … I need to talk to the sheriff.”
Rose tried to get the reins back, but he kicked Jack to a lope and kept them out of her reach and leaving her grasping the saddle horn to stay on. One thing she’d learned working the saloons was how to know when someone was lying. And right now, Rand was lying. He was going to dump her in the town and leave her.
“Stop!” She yelled at him until she was hoarse. She hated him. He’d tricked her.
It took them the whole morning to reach the town that wasn’t much more than a few buildings on the Texas grasslands. Rose kicked Pansy to catch up to him, but Rand seemed to anticipate her every move and kept ahead of her, keeping the reins out of her reach.
He slowed as they entered the town, and he gave her the reins. “I’ll get you a room. There’s a boarding house. We’ll eat lunch. I don’t think the herd we’ve been trailing is that far away. I don’t want you to get hurt. The Butterfield stage stops here. Get on one and go back.”
She glared at him. “I have no intention of leaving without finding Ben.”
He faced her. “Don’t make me have to carry you into town over the saddle and don’t think I won’t. Follow me.”
One look at him, and she believed him. She decided to follow, but she was going to find Ben. She had to.
He stopped in front of Annie’s Boarding House. He told her to wait and hold the horses. In a few minutes, he came out with an older lady following him. He pointed at her. “This is Mrs. Gray. She has a room for you.”
Rand went to Rose and helped her down. “Please.”
His word took some of the anger from her. “I don’t have any money.”
“I took care of it.” He fished in his pocket and put a coin in her hand. “That ought to be enough until I get back. Treat yourself to a new dress.” He tucked a wild strand of hair behind her ear. “Maybe a new hat to tame that hair of yours. You’ll want to look nice for Ben.” He gave her another coin. “If I don’t come back, get on the stage.”
That he’d at least said something encouraging about Ben brought a smile to her face. He must believe that he’d bring him back. Then he’d quickly dashed her hope by telling her to get on the stagecoach.
She took his hand and gave him back the coin for the stage. “After you find Ben, we’ll make it up to you, me and Ben.”
With a stern look, he pointed to the boarding house. “Then stay here until I return. Please.”
Again, he’d said the word, and in such a pleading way. She nodded.
“Let’s get you settled, and then I need to talk to the sheriff.” He walked her into the boarding house, nodded at Mrs. Gray, and left.
Rose turned to follow him when Mrs. Gray grabbed her arm. “You’re to stay with me. He said he’d be back in few days. Gave me money to see that you don’t leave town.” She hollered. “Stacy James, come help me with this woman.”
A boy, maybe sixteen but big and strong as an ox, came from another room.
Mrs. Gray moved her from the door. “Stacy James is my son. He’s strong but a gentleman. You’re to stay here.”
Stacy took her other arm, and the two of them walked her to the table. Her heart breaking, Rose sat down.
“No sense in fighting the men in our lives. They sometimes know what’s best.” Mrs. Gray winked at her and pointed at the food on the table. “Eat up. He paid for it.”
Rose ate a generous portion, she had been hungry. What was Rand up to? Why would he make her prisoner in this little town?
***
Rand walked to the jail and found the sheriff half-asleep at his desk. The man was maybe in his thirties, dark hair and mustache to match. Rand let the door slam, startling the sheriff awake.
Eyes alert, the sheriff stood, ready for action. “What can I do for you?”
Rand liked him. He was a good man. One you could count on. “I’m trailing a small herd, probably rustlers, not far from here. Looks like they’re headed to the territory.”
Holding out his hand, the sheriff looked him over. “Sheriff Dale Hardy.”
Rand shook his hand. “Rand Ketcham.”
“The bounty hunter? Heard you quit.”
“I did.”
Dale raised a brow and stared at him. “What’s your interest in this?”
Rand wondered the answer to that himself. “None really. A woman, Rose, showed up on my doorstep looking for her husband-to-be. Seems he’s missing and maybe been taken by the gang rustling the cattle around Duston. Could be he’s been kidnapped. Could be he’s part of the gang. Ben Anderson is his name.”
“Rose, huh?” Dale shook his head. “Women can sure complicate things.”
“I put her in the boarding house. Paid extra to keep her there. Mrs. Gray has a strong son.”
The sheriff laughed. “Yes, she does. Stacy James is stronger than two grown men. I’d say, she won’t get away.” He leaned against the desk. “Haven’t heard of any rustlers in these parts, but it’s a big country. Want some help?”
“I was counting on it. I’ve seen four sets of hoofprints driving a small herd of cattle. Like I said, I’m not sure if this Ben is part of the gang or not. Rose says no. I tend to believe her.”
The sheriff rubbed a spot on his desk. “I don’t have a deputy. Lost him more than a month ago. I was out of town. A drunk raised a ruckus. Bill tried to quiet him and was killed. Jingo, the man called himself. Made sure everyone knew his name. He’s crazy dangerous. I tried to track him, but rain washed out his trail. Seems he was headed toward Duston, but then he could have gone anywhere.”
Rand felt the call to hunt down the outlaw. But he was retired, raised flowers, and drank whiskey. Until Rose. He rubbed the back of his neck. “Sorry about your deputy.”
Sadness marked the sheriff’s eyes. “He was a good man. Had a wife and three kids. I’d sure like to get that outlaw.” He stared at Rand. “There’s a reward. Think it’s up to five hundred dollars now.”
Rand held up a hand. “I’m out of the business.”
“Is that possible? I would guess you’ve got some men carrying revenge against you. They might come after you.”
“Maybe. Haven’t run across any.” Rand had considered the danger, but then he wasn’t green enough to hang up his gun. He might not be in the business, but he’d defend himself. He glanced at the saloon. Of course, being drunk would ensure he couldn’t shoot straight.
Susanna’s final words wafted through his mind. Maybe it was a good thing Rose had come around. He’d been sober since she’d persuaded him to find Ben.
“Well, I’ll go with you to have a look for that herd. You ready to leave now?”
Rand nodded and went to the door. “You trust any other men to go along?”
The sheriff put on his hat. “Nope, most are working. Any that aren’t are drinking in the saloon. I’d be afraid they’d shoot us by accident.”
Rand mounted Black Jack. “I’ve got enough provisions for a few days.”
The sheriff joined him. “Can’t be gone too long. Let’s go. Where to?”
“West and north.”
The sheriff grunted. “They’re making a run for the territory.”
Rand nodded. What had he gotten himself into? He glanced at the boarding house and saw Rose sitting on the porch flanked by Mrs. Gray and her son. They’d keep her here.
Outside of town, the sheriff scanned the horizon. “How many days ahead you think they are?”
“Maybe one or two. We should be able to catch them.”
The sheriff rolled his shoulders. “You know, I’ve never been one to associate with bounty hunters.”
“Good thing I retired.” Rand grinned.
The sheriff stopped his horse, blocking Rand. “I want you to know up front. If there’s any bounty, I’m giving it to my deputy’s widow.”
“Fine with me, Sheriff. Like I said, I quit. I’m only looking for Ben Anderson.”
“Where do you know this Rose from? She a relative?”
Rand shook his head. “No. She’d heard I was a bounty hunter. Asked me to help her.”
The sheriff moved on. “Rumor had it you quit because your wife was killed in a shootout.”
Rand drew in a jagged breath. “Yes. That’s right.”
“What’s your interest in this Rose woman?” The sheriff rode as one who’d spent years in the saddle as he leaned an arm over the saddle horn.
“None.” Rand wondered if that were true. She’d been the only one to prod him out of the grave-like hole he’d dug himself into. She was a pretty one despite her history. But the way she talked about Ben, Rand didn’t doubt she loved the man.
***
Ben rode behind the herd, pushing the stragglers along. He’d tho
ught about kicking the horse and riding for all he was worth to get away. But Ed was a good shot with a rifle, and Jingo would enjoy killing him. He’d take his chance with the gang and hope that Ed would let him go.
John rode back with him. “Get these cattle going. Ed wants to cross the Red River today.”
“Why don’t you cut me loose, so I have a chance?” Ben held out his hands.
With a sneer, John shook his head. “You just drive those cattle. Faster we get to the territory, the faster Ed can turn you loose.”
“You don’t believe that any more than I do.”
All friendliness disappeared from John’s face. “Just stick to your job.” He rode off.
Dust swirled, making Ben cough. He looked skyward. If anyone was looking for them, all this dust would make a good sign showing where they were. He’d keep quiet about that, too. Praying that Rose had alerted the sheriff, and Trey Duston would surely be on the trail. He didn’t put up with anyone taking his cattle.
Ben drove a couple of ornery steers back to the herd. He wondered who would get him. Duston and his men mistaking him for a rustler, or Jingo? He smiled. Or Rose. There was always a chance she was looking for him. Their love was strong enough.
Then he noticed Ed was moving the herd down into a draw to follow a creek running parallel to the Red River. Maybe he had a few tricks up his sleeve. Get the cattle in water to cut down on the dust and hide out from Duston. That only left Jingo, John, and Ed that he’d have to watch out for.
John came back to him. “Didn’t want you to get lost. Nice little trick Ed found, isn’t it? We should be safe down here until we make a run for the border.”
Ben watched the cattle go down into the draw. “Looks like a good place for an ambush. Not like you can hide a herd of cattle.”
John shrugged. “I just do what Ed tells me.”
“You willing to follow him all the way to prison or the end of a rope?”
Glaring at him, John pointed down the trail. “Just get.”
Lawfully Saved: Inspirational Christian Historical Page 6