Cowboy Lawman's Christmas Reunion
Page 9
Dinner was called, and everyone gathered in the large dining room, where the ladies had laid out the food on the elegant mahogany buffet and two side tables. Once Colonel Northam asked the blessing, the children were served and sent to eat in the kitchen, while the adults sat around the long mahogany dining table. In this homey setting, Justice could well imagine the happiness of having his own family gathered this way in his new house.
Of course Susanna placed him beside Evangeline, and wisps of her familiar gardenia perfume reached his senses. If not for her son, he might consider... No, he’d never give her his heart again. Years ago, she’d made it clear she cared only for wealth, and he hadn’t seen anything to indicate she’d changed, as evidenced by her expensive perfume. He wasn’t about to let her know he owned a productive gold mine and had considerable funds in the Esperanza bank for fear she’d become a willing participant in Susanna’s matchmaking schemes. No, if he ever decided to marry, he wouldn’t let the lady know about his wealth until he’d won her heart.
Still, against all that made sense, he felt drawn to her, undoubtedly because she represented the best parts of his happy youth. Why did his daydreams keep wandering to images of a future with her? And how could he divert his thoughts when he needed to spend weekday afternoons with her in order to finish the Christmas village in time for the Christmas party?
Chapter Six
After a hearty meal, Justice thanked his hostess and took his leave of the party. He walked toward the barn, where he’d left his horse. The wind still blew briskly, covering the sound of his footfalls on the hard-packed barnyard, its whistle through the cracks in the barn wall blending with the squeak of the massive door as he opened it.
Inside, in the dim light of a lantern that shouldn’t be burning with no adult to watch it, he saw Gerard holding one of the Northams’ black-and-white puppies as he stared wistfully at a young horse in its stall. He’d probably lit the lantern so he could see the animals in the dark barn. Justice thought about scolding him, but decided this was a good opening for friendship.
“Afternoon, Gerard.” He kept his tone friendly as though talking to another man.
The boy looked up, startled, and wiped one hand down his cheek. So he’d been crying. Justice would allow him his dignity by ignoring it.
“You interested in learning how to ride?”
Gerard glared at him. “I know how to ride.” He set the puppy down in the straw and stalked away toward the back of the barn.
Justice rested one hand on the top rail of a stall and bent his head. Lord, please help me to reach the boy. Help me not to blame him for his father’s—
The shattering of glass beside him interrupted his prayer. It was followed by a burst of flame near his feet. Down the center aisle of the barn, Gerard held his slingshot, hatred shooting from his eyes.
“You—” The flames quickly reached hay and straw, so Justice halted his scolding and grabbed a bucket and scooped water from the trough. “Go get help!” He yelled at Gerard, but the boy stood stock still, transfixed by the fire.
Seamus entered the barn whistling. Seeing the fire, he grabbed a blanket and soaked it in water to beat the flames. Justice grabbed a pitchfork and separated the burning straw from the untouched. With considerable effort, they managed to avert disaster.
“What happened?” His face covered with soot, Seamus continued to kick dirt over the remnants of hot straw.
So angry he couldn’t speak, Justice nodded toward a defiant Gerard, who’d watched them fight the fire.
Seamus snorted. “First he tries to break my nephew’s neck. Now he tries to burn down Colonel Northam’s barn.” He started toward the boy, who ran out the back door.
Justice gripped Seamus’s arm. “I’ll get him.”
He ran out the front door in time to catch Gerard. As he’d suspected, the boy was headed for the house and his mama. Justice gave him a good shaking.
“What’s the matter with you, boy?”
“Let me go!” Gerard kicked at his shins, but Justice avoided his thrashing feet.
Justice lifted him up, tucked him under his arm and hauled him toward the house, where Evangeline and the others were preparing to leave.
Evangeline ran toward them, her face pale with alarm. “What happened?” She tugged her son from Justice’s arms and ran her hands over his face. “Are you all right, my darling?” She sent an accusing glare in Justice’s direction. “What did you do to him?”
“Your son tried to burn down the barn.”
She started to respond, but Justice held out a hand to stop her.
“Listen to me, boy.” He poked a finger at Gerard. “You start any more trouble like this, and you’ll wish you’d never seen—”
“That’s enough, Sheriff.” Glaring at Justice, Evangeline tucked her son behind her back.
“Oh, my.” Susanna stepped between the warring factions. “Evie, let’s take the children home. They’re tired.” She cast an apologetic look in Justice’s direction.
Gerard peered around his mother and scowled. In Justice’s brief acquaintance with the boy, he’d never looked more like his father. Unable to quiet the rage inside, he gave the elder Mrs. Northam an apologetic nod and returned to the barn to saddle his horse. He rode back to town at a gallop, but the usually calming exercise failed him this time. With Evangeline protecting her son and refusing to see his wicked deeds for what they were, he had no idea how to protect his town from Gerard. Despite his prayers to be able to separate the son from the father, he could only see Lucius in the boy. A feeling he feared was too close to hatred filled his chest, and all of his Ranger training wasn’t helping him at all. To make matters worse, he must deal with his own exasperating attraction to Evangeline.
“Lord, You’re going to have to fix this situation because I sure can’t.”
* * *
During the drive to Susanna’s house, neither she nor Evangeline said a word. Even the younger children were quiet, no doubt sensing something was amiss. For some reason, Gerard didn’t give Evangeline any trouble for the rest of the evening. In fact, he acted as though nothing happened at the ranch’s main house.
At bedtime, Evangeline sat on the edge of his bed and brushed damp hair back from his face. He smiled up at her.
“What happened in the barn?”
His open expression closed, and he turned on his side with his face to the wall. “I’m sleepy.” He tugged the covers up over his head.
Evangeline sighed. If she forced him to answer her, he’d probably throw a tantrum and wake Natty and Frankie. With school and work tomorrow, they all needed a good night of rest. She patted his shoulder and whispered a prayer he’d find a way to be happy. When he stiffened, she knew he’d heard her. Lately he hadn’t wanted her to pray for him. But didn’t he want to be happy? With a sigh, she left the bedroom.
“There you are.” Susanna greeted Evangeline from her seat at the kitchen table. “Have some coffee.”
She wasn’t alone. Wes, the middle-aged cowhand, gave Evangeline a skeptical look and then hid his expression behind his coffee cup.
“May I have tea? Coffee will keep me awake.” She’d prefer to escape a possible confrontation with Susanna, but maybe her cousin could help her in some way once Wes left. While she took a seat, her cousin fetched her teapot and added tea and hot water.
“Mrs. Benoit.” Wes set down his cup. “Seamus rode over a while ago and told me about the trouble up at the big house today. I’m gonna barge right in here because it’s my business as much as everybody else’s on the ranch. You gotta git that boy under control, or there’s gonna be bad trouble. He took his slingshot and shot out a burning lamp, and the flames hit a pile of straw and took off from there. If Seamus and the sheriff hadn’t put it out right quick, the whole place could’ve burnt down, maybe even the house, what with the wind
blowing so hard today. Fire ain’t no game out here, ma’am. If a barn burns down, horses and milk cows die, and a year’s worth of hay for the cattle is lost.”
“Thank you for stating the obvious.” His story shocked Evangeline, but she wouldn’t let him or Susanna see her chagrin. She stood and walked to the door. “I’m sure if all the details were known, my son would be found innocent of any wrongdoing.” She marched down the hallway to the girls’ room and prepared for bed.
The very idea of a rustic cowhand scolding her about an incident he hadn’t witnessed... Scolding her about the way she was rearing her son—
But he’s right.
The thought brought her up short. She was having trouble with Gerard. He did start a fire. He wasn’t innocent at all. But she couldn’t help him when he wouldn’t even talk to her.
Maybe when Nate returned, he could help her figure it out. At the least he would provide a good male example for Gerard. Too bad Justice couldn’t fill the role, but his obvious dislike for her son made it impossible. That realization brought on a deep sadness and a hint of resentment. If Justice had rescued her from her forced marriage to Lucius, none of this would have happened. As always, such thinking reminded her that if she hadn’t married Lucius, she wouldn’t have her two beloved children. As she fell into an uneasy slumber, she couldn’t stop the dreams. In her dreams it wasn’t Lucius but rather Justice as their father.
* * *
After his night of bad dreams and little sleep, Justice dreaded returning to the library to work on the Christmas village. Earlier that day he’d visited the school, and while most of the children gave him their usual friendly smiles, Gerard refused to look in his direction. The boy didn’t have to like him, but he did have to respect the badge. Justice would make sure Gerard learned the lesson or died trying.
Approaching the library, he felt himself taking slower, smaller steps. He dreaded a confrontation with Evangeline, but he’d have to stand firm about her son. He stepped up on the boardwalk and glanced through the window. She sat at her desk with a pile of books beside her. He knew once he opened the door and the scent of her gardenia perfume reached him, he’d lose all perspective. If he didn’t need the little bit of daylight shining through the high windows and illuminating the back room, he’d work on the village at night after she went home so he wouldn’t have to deal with her. Or rather, what her presence did to him.
Inhaling a bracing breath, he opened the door. “Afternoon, Evangeline.”
She didn’t look up. “Good afternoon, Sheriff.” Few people spoke as dismissively to a lawman of his reputation as she did.
He walked past her desk. Instead of gardenias, he smelled paint and turpentine. In the back room, he found she’d already painted everything he’d carved so far. With her part of the work completed, they wouldn’t be working side by side, at least not today. Perhaps never again. Contrary to his earlier thoughts, disappointment filled him. Two kinds of disappointment, in fact. He regretted her choosing to let her son run amok rather than asking him to help her discipline the boy. But most of all, he regretted not being near her. He missed the scent of gardenias, his favorite flower, which could never grow in Colorado’s cold mountain climate.
He set to work on his carving, trying to envision the scene he would set up in the church’s reception hall on the day of the pageant. When the children completed their performance, they’d be greeted by a delightful surprise. Justice thought about adding a toy train to the tiny village, but with so much to finish, he’d have to wait for another year.
Building this surprise for the children would help them understand that their sheriff cared for them, that he wasn’t some stern presence sent to monitor their behavior and scold them for every minor infraction. While he deserved their respect, he never wanted them to be afraid of him.
The sound of humming wafted into the back room. Evangeline. Against all reason, his heart swelled with...what? He tried to name the pleasant emotion, but the perfect word eluded him. So he quit trying and let peace, however momentary, invade his heart.
* * *
After the near disaster at the Northams’ main house, Evangeline expected to be shunned. Yet, the following Sunday, everyone at church remained warm and friendly, unlike her acquaintances in New Orleans after Lucius’s fall from their good opinion. They asked about her progress at the library and expressed their appreciation for her work there. One older woman, after glancing at Justice across the sanctuary, suggested Evangeline might add a little color to her wardrobe since she’d been a widow for over a year. Perhaps softened by the new shirtwaist Evangeline made for her, Miss Prinn already welcomed her back to the classroom without hesitation. The Northam family—Justice, too—must not have mentioned the incident to anyone. How thankful she was for their discretion, their kindness in giving Gerard another chance to prove himself a good boy. The only change she noticed among those people she knew was in Susanna, who’d ceased her attempts at matchmaking.
For her own part, keeping her distance from Justice was proving harder than she’d expected. The smell of his orange-scented cologne as he passed her desk each day brought back memories of pleasanter times both recent and long past. But other than courtesies he showed toward everyone, he’d never hinted at any interest in her beyond her ability to paint the Christmas village. Her only recourse was to finish her work on it in the mornings so she wouldn’t have to work beside him in the afternoons. And try to stifle her longings for what might have been had her father not forced her to marry Lucius.
If only Justice had rescued her instead of ignoring her plight when he returned from Europe. After such thoughts, she chided herself. After all, his father died and his inheritance was in shambles. How awful for the young man he’d been. But then, perhaps during his year and a half in Europe, he’d forgotten his promises to her. She’d likely never know the truth.
The first week in November, Nate and Rand returned briefly with the cattle they’d brought down from mountain grazing. Evangeline expected Susanna to report Gerard’s behavior to her husband, but this year’s roundup had been late and slow. Thus, Nate barely had time to kiss his wife and children before loading the cattle onto the train and embarking for the Denver stockyards before the snows blocked La Veta Pass. From Denver, the cattle would be sold or shipped eastward to Kansas City or Chicago. The brothers expected to be gone for a few more weeks as they bargained for the best prices for their prime beef. At first Evangeline considered Nate’s extended absence to be a reprieve. Then she wished it could all be over, even though Nate might ask her to move out once he knew about Gerard’s missteps. If he did, where would she go?
* * *
As always, the town was thrown into turmoil while the herds of cattle were driven to the train yard. While everyone else stayed out of the way, Justice waited on the platform to question the seasonal cowhands about the shootings at Mrs. Winsted’s mercantile. Before he located them, Nate brought two young men to him.
“These fellas have something to tell you.” Nate patted each one’s shoulder, then touched the brim of his hat. “See you in a couple of weeks, Sheriff.”
“Good trip, Nate.” Justice waved to his friend, then put on his severest face. “All right, boys, what do you have to say for yourselves?”
Not even out of their teens, the short, stocky duo shuffled their feet and looked as guilty as two five-year-olds who’d stolen some cookies.
The blond took off his hat and rolled it in his hands. “We’re the ones who shot up that store.”
The redhead nodded. “Ain’t got no excuse, Sheriff. We come to town for a drink before the roundup, and we was mad y’all don’t have no saloon.”
“Weren’t no reason to shoot up the nice lady’s store,” his friend added.
“I see.” Justice tipped his hat back on his head and crossed his arms over his chest. “What inspired you to confess?”
“Ain’t never heard such preaching, not even from a preacher man.” The redhead guffawed. “Ever’ night round the campfire, same thing. Repent your sins. Come to Jesus.”
“Ain’t nothin’ we could do but—” the blond’s expression softened “—but—” He looked at his friend.
“Repent our sins and come to Jesus,” they chorused.
Justice swallowed a laugh. The godly Northam brothers had done his work for him. And in light of these cowboys’ repentance, he knew the best way to keep them on a straight path was to apply grace instead of prison, where they might fall in with some truly evil men and choose a life of crime.
“All right, boys, here’s what we’re going to do. I know you just got paid, but you’ll need your money to make it through the winter. So you’re going to work off your debt to Mrs. Winsted until her new window and ruined merchandise are paid off. Whatever she tells you to do, you’ll do it.”
“Yessir.”
“Starting today, you’ll clean up the streets where the cattle were driven through, and for the next month, you’ll keep the streets clean of horse leavings. I won’t lock you up, but you’ll sleep at the jail where my deputy and I can keep an eye on you.”
“Yessir.”
“And if you try to leave Esperanza before you’ve paid off your debt, I’ll chase you down like a hungry cougar chasing a fat jackrabbit.”
“Yessir.”
Justice escorted them to the jailhouse so they could get acquainted with their temporary home.
As they passed the intersection of Main Street and Center Avenue, he involuntarily glanced toward the library. Evangeline stood outside the door watching him, her expression unreadable at this distance. He didn’t expect her to know what he’d done for these young men or even to admire his peacekeeping methods. But he sure did wish she and her son understood he could be fair to any miscreant who admitted wrongdoing and tried to reform. While Gerard had behaved for the past few weeks, Justice often saw him hanging out with Deely and Cart after school. A bad combination that would surely cause trouble one of these days. Justice would have to be vigilant and tell his deputy to keep an eye on them, too.