Today, the Pastor's sermon had been on the subject of forgiveness. Cal reckoned that, given what had been happening recently, there was plenty of call for that around Testament Creek.
Grace and Hope walked on a few steps ahead of him and Prudence. Cal smiled at Prudence. "I'm going to say something which might shock you."
Prudence lifted a brow. "You are?"
Cal nodded. "I enjoyed being in church today."
Prudence smiled. "I knew you would." There was a confident certainty in her voice.
"How come?"
"I just had a feeling," Prudence replied and lifted a shoulder. "Pastor Lewis is real nice. His prayer was beautiful."
"It truly was," Cal agreed. "That was quite a sermon. It made me think."
"Forgiveness is hard sometimes," Prudence said. "Especially when you're faced with what you think is injustice."
Cal gazed along the street toward the sheriff's office. He thought about Sheriff Brady and about the two men who'd tried to cause trouble to Prudence and Grace. He still believed there was a connection between the men and the sheriff. "There's plenty of need for justice in this town."
"It's a shame because I saw good people there in that church today," Prudence said. She ran her gaze across the street. "There's so much promise in this place. It would be a pity if bad people made it worse than it could be."
Cal peered at the rough exteriors of the buildings along Main Street. Prudence was right. There was so much potential in Testament Creek. If only they could keep out the bad, drive out the evil that clung to the dark corners, they could make this one of the best places in the territory to live.
A thought occurred to him. "Have you considered working as a schoolteacher?"
Prudence seemed genuinely surprised by his question. She considered it for a moment and then shrugged. "I think I've got more than enough to worry about up at the Circle T."
"But you still love teaching, don't you?"
Prudence nodded. "It was always my ambition. Even when I was in school myself, I wanted to be like the teacher."
"You mean you've always wanted to be in charge?" He grinned. "Why am I not surprised at that?"
Prudence prodded his side with her elbow. "That was rude," she said and then smiled at him. She laughed quietly. Grace and Hope turned and looked at them. Grace leaned her head closer to Hope and whispered something. Cal saw Prudence's cheeks flush slightly as she realized she'd suddenly become the focus of attention.
"Hasn't the town already got a schoolteacher?" Prudence asked.
Cal nodded. "Miss Jones runs the schoolhouse over to the east of town. She has around thirty children there. But the town will always need teachers. Those kids are hungry for learning."
Prudence seemed to think about it for a moment and then nodded. "Maybe I might give it some consideration. For now, I've got a ranch to run."
"You sure have," Cal agreed.
From up ahead there came a squeal of excitement. Grace and Hope had halted outside the dressmaker's store and were eagerly looking in the window. It was just as well the store was closed, Cal reflected. Otherwise he might have been dragged in to doing shopping.
"It will be Hope's birthday soon," Prudence revealed.
"When?"
"This coming Friday," Prudence replied.
"Are you planning a celebration?" he asked, already knowing what would be the answer.
"Of course," Prudence said.
Hope pointed to a dress she could see further inside the shop and started talking animatedly to Grace. Prudence went to join in, leaving Cal a few steps back watching all the excitement. He glanced along the boardwalk and saw a figure step out from one of the buildings. The jailhouse door had opened and Sheriff Brady was watching the three women. There was a look of obvious disapproval on the man's face.
Cal felt his jaw tighten. Excusing himself quickly, he strode along the boardwalk. Brady saw Cal advancing toward him and stepped back into the jailhouse. Cal reached it, pushed open the door and stepped inside.
"You got something against these women?" Cal asked Brady who stood in front of his desk facing him defiantly.
"What makes you say that?" Brady's voice shook with emotion. The man was wearing a holstered pistol. Cal was unarmed, so there would be no shooting.
"I saw how you were looking at them," Cal complained. "Just because they came in here a while back and faced you down, doesn't give you the right to be causing trouble for them."
Brady's brows furrowed. "I ain't been causing them no harm," he retorted. "And if anyone says I have, they'll be lying."
Cal jabbed a thumb against his own chest. "I'm the one saying it."
Brady's brows lifted. "You?"
Cal advanced on Brady. "It was a mighty strange coincidence the other day when two of those women nearly came to harm because a couple of no-goods were planning on ambushing them out by the creek on the way back to the Circle T."
"I don't know nothin' about that," Brady complained.
"It was just after they met with you and complained about what Rafael Largo is up to."
"I don't mix with Largo," Brady stated. Cal knew that was a lie. He'd seen the sheriff in Largo's company plenty of times over the last year.
Cal tilted his head and sneered at Brady, waiting for the man's reply. Cal tightened his fingers into tight fists. He saw Brady's gun hand twitch and move toward his holster.
"I'm not armed sheriff," Cal told him. "And, the last time I checked, a man speaking freely wasn't breaking the law."
Brady's hand drifted away from the gun. Cal's fists unclenched. Cal wasn't willing to resort to violence. He'd been brought up to believe that violence was only to be used in the last resort. But men like Brady, corrupted and rotten to the core, just plain annoyed Cal. He hated to see men like that prosper.
At that moment, the door opened and Prudence came striding in. She smiled at Cal. "There you are. I thought I saw you coming in here." Prudence smiled at Sheriff Brady. "I didn't see you at church this morning, sheriff," Prudence said. There was a mischievous tone in her voice that made Cal grin.
Brady cleared his throat and shifted on his heels. "I had law business to attend to, ma'am," he said apologetically.
To his surprise, Prudence scooped her arm inside Cal's. Ignoring Cal's startled look, she waved her other gloved hand at the sheriff. "Hope to see you at church next Sunday."
Then she practically dragged Cal out of the jailhouse. Walking arm in arm with Cal a short distance up the boardwalk, Prudence halted suddenly when she saw Hope and Grace staring, wide-eyed, at her and Cal. Prudence quickly released herself from Cal's arm.
"Why did you do that?" Cal demanded.
Prudence's mouth pouted and her brows ridged into deep furrows. "Don't you go getting yourself into trouble on our behalf, Cal Logan," Prudence snapped. Gone was the cheerful tone she'd used inside the jailhouse. Now she sounded annoyed.
"I wasn't about to," he replied. "But someone had to tell that no-good that his time is over. Or that it will be soon."
Prudence leaned closer and lowered her voice. "We need to wait for the replies to Grace's telegrams before we can do anything. We must be patient, Cal."
Cal saw Grace and Hope coming their way. "Okay," he murmured, admitting that Prudence might, after all, have saved him from acting like a fool. "I guess you're right."
Cal told himself that, sometimes Prudence acted like a real schoolmarm. Right down to that tone of voice she probably used with mischievous students. There was also that look in her eyes. He secretly admitted to himself that he'd be quite happy if Prudence looked at him like that every day of the week.
Prudence went to Grace and Hope. After a quick conversation it was decided that they'd like to return to the Circle T. Grace looked at Cal and told him she was looking forward to another shooting lesson. She was quickly chided by Prudence who reminded Grace that this was Sunday and it was supposed to be a day of rest. Grace reluctantly agreed and soon they were all back on the buck
board and heading back to the ranch.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Back at the ranch later, Prudence, Grace and Hope all helped Lucia in the kitchen. They prepared a dinner of chicken, vegetables and potatoes followed by an apple pie from a recipe Prudence's mother had given her. After returning from town, Cal had left for the remainder of the afternoon. Ranch work couldn't stop, not even on a Sunday.
As she worked in the kitchen in the afternoon, in between chatting with the others, Prudence reflected on what had happened today in town. It had been a pleasure to go to church with Cal and the others. Being there, with him seated alongside her, Prudence had felt as if she was truly in a place where she belonged. And not just in the church. Testament Creek and its surroundings were beginning to find a place in her heart.
And there was someone else filling her heart with a renewed interest. During the church service, and later at the coffee shop, Prudence had told herself that Cal Logan was starting to mean a whole lot to her. She took special delight in his considerate ways, as well as his good humor. In the first few weeks since coming to the Circle T, Prudence knew she'd been guilty of treating Cal as if he was merely an employee. A foreman.
But now she knew he was so much more than that. Cal was a good and strong man. Someone who looked upon the Circle T as a place which needed to be protected. And he also seemed determined to protect Prudence, Grace and Hope, too. Teaching them how to take care of themselves was real important to Cal. His frustration at Prudence's refusal to learn how to shoot was obvious, but she wasn't about to change her mind. Her principles were too important to her.
As she peeled the potatoes, Prudence allowed herself a few moments to think about how handsome Cal was. Riding next to him on the buckboard, she'd sensed the tremendous strength in his physique. It had been shaped by years of hard work. His was a healthy, strong physique, suited to the hard life he'd chosen for himself.
Every time Cal looked at her now, she felt her heart skip a beat. There was a brightness in his gaze and a ready smile on his lips. She wondered what it would be like to kiss Cal. She quietly chided herself for that scandalous thought. But with Cal being so pleasing to the eye, it was hard not to think such thoughts, she told herself.
What she was thinking must have been written on her face because both Grace and Hope teased Prudence a few times during the afternoon. Prudence resolutely refused to divulge her secret thoughts, but she figured her friends were on to her. Their eyes had widened when they'd seen her and Cal arm in arm outside the sheriff's office. They knew what was going on between her and Cal.
Prudence was glad when Cal returned to the ranch house for dinner. During the meal, Cal was his usual charming and amusing self. Prudence noticed that Cal could hardly keep his eyes off her. That didn't bother her at all. But it seemed she wasn't the only one who'd noticed. After the meal, when Prudence and Grace were carrying some plates back to the kitchen, Grace murmured: "Cal's being real nice to you, isn't he?"
Prudence strode into the kitchen and put the plates on the table. "What gives you that idea?" she asked.
Grace shook her head and grinned. "I saw the way he was looking at you. And the way you were holding on to him in town."
Prudence felt her face flush with heat. She knew Cal was in the parlor. The last thing she wanted was for him to overhear what was being said. "I was not holding on to him," she whispered.
Grace's laughter echoed in the kitchen. At the dry sink, Lucia turned and smiled. Prudence frowned. It seemed like everyone was starting to think that she and Cal had something going between them.
"He's been very helpful to us," Prudence objected.
"Is that why you went and rescued him from the sheriff's office?" Grace asked.
"Cal doesn't need my help," Prudence replied. "He can look after himself."
"I'm sure he can," Grace said.
Prudence took the plates to the sink. Lucia shook her head. "You go back to the parlor," Lucia said. "I can do this myself."
"I'll help you, Lucia," Grace offered.
"You do not have to, Miss Grace," Lucia replied.
Grace shook her head and tugged up the sleeves of her gown. "Nonsense." Grace started dealing with the dirty dishes. She waved a hand at Prudence. "Shoo!" Grace exclaimed. "Go to him."
Prudence sighed with exasperation. Sometimes, Grace was just too pushy, Prudence told herself. Admitting defeat, she left the kitchen and went into the parlor, but Cal was nowhere to be found.
She felt a draft of cool air. At the rear of the parlor there was a door which opened out to the back of the ranch house. She saw that it lay open. Cal must have gone out that way.
Prudence made her way outside. At the rear of the house there was a flat open area which had been cultivated as a garden of sorts. Flowers, shrubs and hedges had been planted in neat rows. A path led through the middle of the garden area. The path ended in deep grass which stretched for a few hundred yards back to a semi-circle of live oak trees which enclosed the ranch house like a pair of welcoming arms. The grassy area was sprinkled in bluebonnets. Their blue color shimmered in the soft, evening light. Prudence had developed an intense love of those flowers, with their bonnet-shaped petals.
Prudence walked up the grave-covered path and savored the sight of the beautiful flowers. Silas must have designed this garden area as a pleasant retreat, she told herself. It reminded her of the kinds of gardens found back in the residential districts of Kansas City. It was almost as if Silas had wanted something familiar to remind him of where he'd come from.
Reaching the end of the gravel pathway, she saw that some of the high grass had been pressed down by footsteps. It looked like Cal had made his way across the grassy area and toward the trees. Gazing at the trees she couldn't see any sign of him. But it was getting dark, and the sky was turning a deep shade of navy blue.
Prudence followed the trail through the grass until she reached the curving grove of trees. Turning, she looked back at the ranch house. From here, she could see beyond the house to the valley. Seeing the beauty, Prudence understood why Silas had chosen this place to build his ranch house. It was a glorious view, one that filled her heart with delight.
Leaning back against a tree, Prudence allowed the view of the ranch, the valley and the sky to fill her senses. She felt an amazing peace take hold of her. She wondered what it would be like to live here for the rest of her life. That was a possibility, one she'd avoided thinking about too much. If she was to make that choice, her life would be turned upside down forever. And, right now, she still wasn't sure if that was what she really wanted. She knew that Hope and Grace had similar doubts about their longterm future. Maybe they'd all figure it out, she told herself. But it might take time before they all knew for sure.
She sighed contentedly, feeling the hardness of the tree at her back. Suddenly, she felt a movement behind her. She gasped and her body tensed.
A soft voice spoke. "It is beautiful, isn't it." Prudence turned to find Cal leaning against the tree. He smiled at her. "Nothing like it in the world," he added.
Prudence lifted a hand to her chest. "I was wondering where you'd gone."
Cal ran his gaze around the garden and the ranch house. "I like coming out here sometimes. It's kinda peaceful, don't you think?"
Her heart was beating fast now and she was sure her features were flushed. She did her best to mask her reaction to Cal being so close. She was glad it was getting dark. Perhaps he wouldn't notice her pink cheeks. Gazing out beyond the ranch house, she nodded. "It is lovely."
"And it's all yours," Cal said slowly.
"Don't forget Grace and Hope."
"How could I?" Cal said and smiled.
Cal eased closer to her. Now he was leaning against the tree, barely inches from her. "Silas said he made this little garden to remind him of home."
"I thought that might be why he did it. Maybe he didn't want to let go of the past, after all."
"I think he was glad to turn his back on Kansas City," Cal sa
id. "All he talked about was how much he wanted an adventurous life. He said his life had been boring. Even with his wealth. Until he came here. In Texas, he felt alive, like never before."
"I only knew him for a few months," Prudence admitted. "But he seemed like he was excited by the idea of striking out on his own. He had no family." Prudence frowned. "Sometimes, I got the impression he was very lonely."
Cal nodded. "Me too. That's not something that is easy to hide. Especially out in a place like this. He and I had some long talks. He liked to spend time out on the range. A man gets plenty of time to think when he's out tending to a herd. And, if there's a rider alongside you, then the need to talk becomes impossible to resist."
"You got to know Silas pretty well, didn't you," Prudence said.
When Cal spoke, his voice cracked with emotion. "He was like a father to me."
Prudence saw the emotion in Cal's eyes. She dragged her attention away from him. "Isn't this an unusual place to build a ranch?"
"Why do ask that?"
Prudence gestured to the trees. "The trees shelter the house from north winds, I guess. Apart from that, wouldn't he have built the house nearer to the river?"
"This was originally a clearing in the middle of a circular grove of trees," Cal explained. "Silas cut down the trees to the south and used them to build the ranch house. That opened up the clearing to the valley," he said and pointed out past the house. "You can see why he liked it here. The supply of water comes from the channels he cut. It was a good solution."
"I can see that would make sense."
Cal shifted slowly, coming closer to Prudence. He sighed and then smiled at her. "You're getting to be a regular expert, aren't you?"
The Texas Cowboy’s Courtship (Testament Creek Book 1) Page 9