“I’m thinking ofus, Ty Morgan. And I’m frightened. You have no intention of going through with this marriage, do you?” Her voice shook, but her eyes remained dry.
He ran a hand through his hair. “This has nothing to do with my commitment to you, nor is it the time to discuss it. A guest at my ranch was injured. That’s my concern.”
Anna brushed her fingertips down the side of his face. “I think your concern runs much deeper than you care to admit. We’ll discuss it later. For now, what can I do to help?”
Before her gaze hardened, Ty caught a glimpse of the Anna he once knew. “Perhaps you can help your mother dismiss these people with as much grace as possible.”
“Boss?” Rusty called from the bottom of the steps. “Sorry to interrupt, but I think maybe you and that Mr. Benson might want to hear what I’ve got to say. We were able to catch up with young Jacob. He’s down in your study—him and that dog.” He shrugged. “I couldn’t convince him to come without the hound. But he thinks he’s in trouble. I ain’t told him nothin’ about Miss Robin. Figgered that was your job.”
Ty gripped the stair rail. Jacob. Why hadn’t he noticed Jacob wasn’t with Robin or William? How distraught Robin would be if something happened to the tyke. He moved Anna to one side and peered down the hallway. “Benson? I think you need to come with me.”
William paused at Robin’s door then joined Ty as they descended the stairs. “Did something happen?”
“I’m not sure. Rusty seemed to think we needed some privacy.” They reached the bottom and Ty motioned for them to follow him. “We can talk in my office. Rusty, did you say anything to John?”
“Yeah. He’s gonna check with Mrs. Ledbetter first to see if there’s anything she needs before he comes.”
“Good. Emma will know what’s needed.”
Ty stepped into his study and found Jacob crouched by the wall, clinging to the dog. The boy’s eyes were wide, and with one hand he twisted the hair on the dog’s neck around his fingers.
Ty knelt beside Jacob. “So, this is Tripper? You finally caught him, didn’t you?”
Jacob sniffed. “Is you mad with me?”
Ty patted Jacob’s head. “No, little man. I’m not mad at you. Tripper looks like a mighty fine dog.”
Jacob nodded. “I told you he wouldn’t never hurt me. Where’s Robin? I want Robin to see Tripper.”
Images of Jacob’s dead mother and the small storm-tossed child of a few short weeks ago swirled through Ty’s mind. How could he tell this child that the woman he’d so quickly claimed at his new mama was injured? Would it bring bad memories? Would he equate being injured with never coming back? And what if Robin died? With no evidence that Jacob had a pa, and nothing legal to bind him to anyone else, what would happen to this little man?
William sat on the floor and folded his legs to make a place for the boy, then picked him up and settled him on his lap. “Jacob, I think we should keep Tripper as a surprise for Robin when she wakes up.”
Jacob squirmed to look up at Benson. “Why’s she sleeping in the daytime? She don’t never sleep if it’s daytime.”
William took a deep breath. “Do you remember a little while ago when we were going back to the Feather, and you saw your dog?”
Jacob nodded.
“You were pretty excited, weren’t you?”
“Yeah, I wanted to catch him, and I did.” He rubbed his face in the dog’s hairy neck. “See, he likes me.”
“He sure does. And you know what? Robin likes you, too. She was so excited you might catch your friend here that she stood up to watch you. But then she fell out of the wagon and bumped her head. It made her real sleepy, so for a while we need to be very quiet and let her sleep.”
“All night? Then she won’t get to see Tripper ‘til morning. That’s a long time. Will she get waked up in the morning?”
William lifted his eyes to Ty.
Ty swallowed, but words wouldn’t come.
William sighed then ruffled the boy’s hair. “Well, it might even be longer than all night, Jacob. Sometimes when a person gets a bad bump on the head it makes them sleep for a long time. So we’ll have to see. Do you think you can remember to be real quiet when you’re in the house?”
“What if she don’t wake up? My mama went to sleep after the big storm, and she didn’t ever wake up. I hollered and hollered at her, but she kept on sleeping and sleeping. Will Ty have to dig a hole for Robin like he did for Ma?”
He scrambled from William’s lap and threw himself at Ty’s leg. “I don’t want you to dig a hole, Ty. Cuz then I’ll have to say good-bye to Robin, too. Please don’t dig a hole.” Sobs shook his small body. “Promise ya won’t dig a hole.”
Ty’s chest tightened until he could hardly breathe. He gathered Jacob in his arms and rocked him. How he longed to say what the boy wanted to hear. But words were cheap—the price of a promise too high.
The door opened and John entered the room, his gaze resting on each of them. Deep furrows lined his brow above sorrow-filled eyes. He ran his tongue over his lips. “Men, I think we best be talkin’ to somebody what knows a whole lot more than we do right now.”
He bowed his head, and the rest of them followed suit. “Father in heaven . . .” John’s voice trembled. “I don’t reckon You can hardly miss a whole roomful of bawlin’ men like we are. But sure as the sun rises ever’ mornin’, we need Your help right now. There’s a little gal soft and sweet as her name a layin’ real hurt upstairs. I don’t know about the rest of these cowboys, but I can tell Ya for sure I love her more’n I ever thought I could love somebody other than my own ma. You knowed what You was doin’ for sure when You packed all that feistiness into such a small package. You done could see ahead how much she was a gonna need it as she went through life. Well, now, we’re a beggin’ You to put all that fight into one big punch and bring her through this bump on the head just like she was before it happened. We’ll surely be beholdin’ to Ya for hearin’ our puny prayers. And we be askin’ Ya this in the name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen.”
Amens echoed through the room.
John blew his nose then stuffed his handkerchief into his pocket. “Okay, Rusty—you wanna tell us why you called this meetin’? I’d surely like to know how it is that stranger got so close to the house without bein’ seen.” He leaned on Ty’s desk.
Rusty widened his stance and squared his shoulders.
Ty held his breath. His foreman was a gentle giant, but he didn’t cotton to anyone insinuating he wasn’t doing his job. John may have met his match.
“We saw him—me and Sam. We watched him for a long time, but he wasn’t doin’ nothin’ but sittin’ there lookin’. We figured as long as he didn’t make a move to come closer, we wouldn’t bother him none.”
“Well, he sure ‘nuff got close without any interference.”
“And it was a good thing he did.” Ty interrupted. “His quick action got help to Robin sooner than either Sam or Rusty could have.”
“That’s right, Mr. Morgan.” Rusty relaxed his stance. “We saw the boy run for the dog, but then everything happened so fast. We was still tryin’ to keep track of Jacob; then Benson was on the ground, and the next thing we knew the stranger came thunderin’ in.”
“Good thing he didn’t have a gun.”
“Let him finish, John.” Ty nodded. “Go on Rusty.”
Rusty shoved his hands in his pockets. “Well, sir, after we caught up with the boy and his dog, Sam took off after the stranger. I waited to see if he’d come back, but he’s been gone a long time. I’m wonderin’ if I should try to find him, but I didn’t know what to do with Jacob.”
“You think Sam might be in trouble? Or is there more?”
“I’ve known Sam Mason since we was pups, and I never knowed him to be so upset as when we caught up with the boy and this here dog. His face turned white, and he looked me in the eyes—you know how he does—and he said, ‘Rusty, you take the boy and the dog back. I’ve got me some man-f
etchin’ to do.’ Then he spurred his horse without nary a glance back. He can take care of himself, that’s for sure. I’d just feel better if I could go lookin’ for him.”
Ty’s chest constricted. What if Sam caught up with the man and did something foolish? They might never find out who he was or what he was doing hanging around their ranches. “You want me to send one of the other men with you?”
“No sir. I don’t think that’ll be necessary unless you don’t hear from us for a couple of days. Hard tellin’ how far he might have to chase him. But if I know Sam, he won’t quit as long as he can keep him in sight.” Rusty patted Jacob on the head. “Take care of that pooch, boy.”
The minute Rusty left the room, John slammed his hand against the closed door. “I don’t like it, Ty. Not one bit. Sam knows somethin’ he ain’t been lettin’ us in on. No sir, I think he’s up to no good.”
Ty shook his head. “I don’t like it either, but I don’t think Sam would do anything to cause harm. My bet is he caught the guy and is trying to decide what to do with him.”
“Don’t know that it’s up to him to figger out. Bring him back here. If he’s the boy’s pa, then we’ll decide what to do with him.” John walked to the window and pulled the curtain aside.
“Tripper’s ears get all pointy when you talk loud.” Jacob pulled the dog closer to his side. “Look, Mr. Benson. Are my ears all pointy?”
William laughed. “No, Jacob. Your ears are fine.”
Ty shot a withering glance at John. “Your ears are fine, but Mr. Wenghold has a big mouth.”
Jacob traced his own mouth with his fingers. “Will my mouth get big when I get old and talk loud?”
“Oh, for . . .” John’s face matched the red bandana he swiped across his mouth.
Ty met William’s gaze and they exchanged smiles.
TWENTY-SIX
Somewhere in the timber beyond the house an owl hooted its mournful call as Ty stepped onto the porch and lowered himself to the swing. A lamp burned on the small table by the open window and revealed Anna’s mother as she sat in his mother’s favorite chair. Florence Blair had been an incredible help, and he didn’t have the heart to ask her and Anna to leave, especially to journey home in the dark. So far he’d managed to avoid any further confrontation with his so-called fiancée. But the staccato of approaching footsteps signaled that was about to end.
“May I join you?” Anna stood in front of him, arms folded.
He scooted to one side, and she slid beside him and slipped her hand into his. “How is Miss Wenghold?”
His shoulders tensed. Perhaps if he could see Anna’s face he could discern whether there was real concern there or merely polite curiosity. “Doc says the next hours, or maybe even days, are critical.”
“Do you plan for her to stay here until she’s fully recovered?”
He nodded. “She’ll be here until Doc Mercer tells me she’s well enough to be moved. Then it will be her decision.”
“But wouldn’t she be more comfortable in her own bed at her uncle’s ranch?”
Ty laid his head against the back of the swing. Why did she choose now to challenge him? “She’s too critical to move. Doc won’t let anyone in to see her. Not even her uncle.”
“I don’t want her in our bed, Ty. Couldn’t she at least be moved to another room?”
“It’s notour bed, Anna. It was my folks’ bed, in my folks’ room, and she stays where she is.”
She placed her hand on his chin and turned his head to face her. “What if her head injury leaves her . . . well, even more crippled than she is already? What would become of the little boy? Her uncle couldn’t care for him, and I doubt her mail-order beau would—”
Ty jumped from the swing with such force that it hit the side of the house. “What do you mean, her mail-order beau? Why would you make a statement like that? Did Robin tell you that?”
Anna put her hand to her throat. “No. I assumed—”
“You assumed what?”
“I saw something that indicated she might—”
“You sawsomething? What did you see, Anna? And where did you see it?” Ty balled his hands into fists and paced. “Tell me. What exactly did you see?”
“I saw an advertisement.”
“And where exactly did you see this? Was it posted publicly? Was it in a newspaper? Tell me. I want to hear it from you.”
Anna jumped to her feet, hands clenched at her side. “Fine! If you must know, I saw it on the table by your bed––the day I came to tell you that Mother and I were planning this picnic to announce our engagement.” Anger laced her words.
“And did you happen to see the picture Jacob drew for me on the back of the advertisement?”
Anna shook her head “No, I . . . I didn’t see a picture. Only the advertisement. I thought . . . I thought maybe you’d answered it.” She toyed with her ring.
Ty’s pulse pounded in his ears. Could it beAnnawas responsible for Robin’s hurried departure and thus her accident? “And because your love for me is so strong, and you trust me implicitly, you were suspicious instead of discussing it with me. Am I correct? Did you tell anyone else what you observed in the privacy ofmy bedroom?”
“Anna Kathryn.” Florence Blair stepped from the shadows. “I would be interested in knowing that myself. Ty, please accept my apologies for intruding. I never planned to eavesdrop. However, I couldn’t help but overhear. I was right inside.” She motioned toward the open window.
Anna flipped her wrist in dismissal. “Mother, this doesn’t concern you. This is between me and Ty.”
With chin raised, Mrs. Blair turned to face Anna. “Oh, but it does concern me, daughter. I heard you tell Ty we planned this big celebration. You toldme this was Ty’s idea—that he could hardly wait to make the announcement, that in fact he was so anxious to be married he was pressuring you to move the wedding date to early autumn.” Her voice broke. “You lied to me, Anna. I want to know how many other lives you’ve affected with this charade.”
Anna sank back into the swing. “What makes you think I told anyone, Mother? Why are you so quick to accuse me of bearing tales?”
Florence clutched Ty’s arm. Her chin quivered and eyes clouded, but she spoke with authority. “Perhaps I question you, my dear, because Henrietta Harvey asked me Sunday morning if the young man who accompanied Robin Wenghold was, by chance, one of her mail-order beaus.”
Ty groaned. “Anna, surely you must realize that by telling Henrietta you might as well announce it from the rooftops of Cedar Bluff. Why her, of all people?”
Anna glared at him. “I thought she would be able to tell me if Robin had received letters from men, and if any of them were from you. But I honestly thought she would be sworn to secrecy since Albert is the postmaster.”
“Secrecy to whom?” Ty shook his head. “Did you think she would tell you and no one else? Are you truly that privileged?” He leaned toward her. “Did you ever tell Robin you saw the advertisement?”
Anna crossed her arms, her mouth tight.
Ty lifted her chin. “Look at me, Anna, and for once tell the truth.”
Her gaze locked on his, dark and defiant. “I only asked if Mr. Benson answered the advertisement.”
“And when did this conversation take place? Today?” Ty ran his hand through his hair. “Is that why she left in such a hurry? Because you chose today, when practically the entire community was present, to humiliate her regarding something over which she had no control?”
“How do you know she had no control?" Anna stood, her voice shrill. “I saw the look on your face when they walked into church. You were as surprised as anyone to see your Miss Wenghold on the arm of that man. Who is he, Ty? Do you know him? How do you know he isn’t mail order? Henrietta said Robin got a letter from some man from Chicago. Doesn’t it seem a bit strange that she would be getting correspondence from someone that far away? He could very well be some poor city-slicker looking for an unclaimed treasure who just might be in line t
o inherit a large Kansas ranch.”
“I’m wondering”—William Benson strode from the shadows of the wraparound porch— “why my relationship with Robin, or my reason for being here, should concern either one of you?”
Ty pinched the bridge of his nose. “I didn’t realize you were still up.” The last thing he wanted was another person in on this conversation.
“Yes, that’s obvious.” William nodded his direction, his eyes narrow and dark. “I owe no one this explanation, but for Robin’s sake I will say this one time, and then consider the topic closed to further discussion.” The muscle in his jaw tightened, and his hands clenched at his sides.
“I’m here at my own insistence, Miss Blair. Robin and I grew up together. In Chicago, to be exact. We are lifelong friends. I proposed to that sweet girl once before she left. She turned me down. So I invited myself to Kansas to see if I might convince her she made the wrong decision. I can assure you, I answered no advertisement. I came with the intention of staying one month. I will now stay until such time Robin tells me to leave—if God answers my prayer that she survive.”
He turned on his heel, then hesitated and turned back. “By the way, Morgan, is there somewhere in town where I might send a telegram? I believe Robin’s sisters need to come at once.”
“Mr. Rempel at the train depot could take care of it for you. Uh . . . could I perhaps help in the purchase of tickets for their travel?”
William shook his head. “That won’t be necessary. I’ll contact my father at the bank and he will see to the arrangements from that end. I’ll go to town first thing in the morning. I pray Robin is still with us then.”
He turned to Anna. “Where I come from, a gentleman would never divulge his financial situation to a lady. But since you question my integrity I will apprise you of the fact that I could, and would, buy the Featherand the Hawk should their owners ever decide to sell.”
Ty gazed into the stricken face of Florence Blair. She touched his arm and her hands trembled. “I’m so very sorry, Ty. I so hoped we might be of help to you, and instead this only adds another dimension of pain for us all. I know this is a lot to ask or expect, but do you think it possible someone could hitch up our buggy so we might return to Cedar Bluff?”
Robin Page 22