“She won’t leave him, William,” Emma said. “Women’s hearts are different, I suppose. But she’ll give you up before she’ll turn loose of the boy.”
He nodded again. “I can see that now. But tell me this––will she give Ty Morgan up to keep the boy?”
John shook his head. “She won’t ever have to decide between the two, William. Ty couldn’t leave the boy any more than Robin could.”
“But you’re leaving out the fact that there’s still a stranger lurking. What if he shows himself and lays claim to Jacob? What then?”
“You got me in a corner, son. I don’t have any idea what would happen, other than I could pretty well guarantee there’d be one whale of a fight. What I think I’m hearin’ is you don’t relish none of that.”
William shrugged. “I’m saying if the stranger is Jacob’s pa, then he’d have first rights to the boy. I think there are courts that would agree.”
“Maybe in Chicago there are courts like that.” John swiped his hand through his hair. “Out here we’d ask the man what took him so blamed long to come after him. Why sneak around? You love someone, you go after ‘em. It don’t take no fancy court to decide somethin’ like that.”
William smiled. “You’re trying to tell me something, John. Spit it out.”
John nodded. “I knowed you weren’t no city slicker. What I’m a sayin’, and you listen up. You knowed Robin all your life. You watched out for her and all, but you never could up and say you loved her. Now, you flip that gold piece over and you got a man what only has knowed her for a couple of months, and he can’t wait to tell her them words.”
“You know for a fact Morgan’s engagement to Anna Blair is off?”
“Doc told me Ty showed him the ring hisself. I ain’t heard it from Ty.”
William’s gaze darkened. “It seems a bit unfair for us to stand outside Robin’s room and try to make a choice for her. I won’t make a scene, but neither will I sit back and presume we know what’s in her heart. So what if Ty’s engagement is off. If he can change his mind with every twist of the Kansas wind, then Robin will only become another victim of Morgan’s storm, won’t she? How do you know he won’t marry her just to keep the boy? Is that any better than my reasons for being here?”
John wiped his hand across his mouth. Doggone if William didn’t have a point. “What you’re sayin’ is you aim to fight for Robin’s hand? You maybe done chawed off a hunk of life what might end up tastin’ bitter before you get it swallered.”
William rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ll take my chances. I invited myself here, but I won’t leave unless, or until, Robin tells me to go.”
“I reckon that’s fair enough. But ya know you and Ty will most likely be buttin’ heads again, don’t ya?”
William shook his head. “You needn’t worry, John. We’ll behave like gentlemen.”
“Humph. Ain’t nothin’ gentle about neither one of ya. Guess we’ll have to see if lovin’ the little lady what’s layin’ in that bed yonder can make men out of ya.”
John winked at Emma. Yep. A good woman could sure make you feel like a man. His heart nearly thumped out of his chest.Jumpin’ bullfrogs. AmI in love? Now wouldn’t that buy granny a new hat—and a pink feather to put in it?
THIRTY-ONE
“Did Robin wake up? Can I bring Tripper for her to see?” Jacob jabbered and jumped in Ty’s arms all the way to the house. “She’ll like my dog, won’t she? Why you carryin’ me? I’m big now.”
“I know you’re big, but I can still walk faster than you can. And to answer your first question, yes, Robin woke up, and she wants to see you. But you can’t take Tripper in the house.”
“But she wants to see him, I know she does. Can I, please?”
Ty stood Jacob on his feet when they reached the porch. “She’ll see him when she’s feeling better.” He knelt in front of the boy. “Now, listen to me. Robin is awake, but she’s still very hurt, so you have to promise you won’t talk loud or jump on the bed. You do what Doc Mercer says. No arguing.”
“Can she talk to me?” He opened the kitchen door. “Can I tell her I gots Tripper?”
“You can tell her, but keep your voice soft.”
Doc Mercer met them at door. “You take him on up to Emma, Ty, then join me and John down here, if you don’t mind.”
“I can’t see her?” Ty wanted to argue, but he wouldn’t—not in front of Jacob.
“Not yet. Just do as I say and you can maybe look in on her later. Depends on what Emma says.”
Jacob was halfway up the steps when Ty caught up with him. “You mind Emma, now. You hear?”
Jacob reached for his hand when they got to the top. “Are you mad with Doc Mercer?”
“Disappointed, Jacob. I wanted to see her, too.”
“I’ll tell her, okay?”
Ty smiled at the boy. “Yeah, you do that. I’ll see you after bit.” He trudged down the stairs to join the other men already seated in the kitchen.
John shoved three pieces of pie around the table as though he were shuffling cards. Ty gritted his teeth. His mother would be ashamed for company to see the chips in her white ironstone plates, even if it were only men.
“Where did this come from?” Ty sighed and stuffed a bite into his mouth. He couldn’t remember when he’d last had food. “Mm-mm, apple. And the tip is the best bite, you know.”
“Robin brought the pie along for the celebration. It’ll go to waste if we don’t eat it.” John cut his triangle into two pieces. “Now, if you had any smarts you’d be a followin’ what I did and you’d have yourself two of them tippy mouthfuls.” He grinned and waved a forkful under Ty’s nose.
“You don’t have more pie, John, just more pieces.” Ty nodded toward Doc. “You have something on your mind?
“Humph, he ain’t had nothin’ on his mind for as long as I ever knowed him.” John smashed his fork on the crumbs of crust on his plate.
Doc reared back in his chair. “Well, at least Igot a mind which is more than I can say for some other old codger sitting at this table.”
Ty took a deep breath. “Stop it.”
The two older men jerked at his outburst.
He knew he was being short with them, but he was losing his patience. “I got more worthwhile things to do than listen to the two of you harp at each other. If you have something important to say, Doc, then spit it out. Otherwise, I’m out of here and you can find me upstairs with Robin.”
“I got plenty to say, young man.” Doc peered at him over the rim of his glasses. “That man, the one you call the stranger—”
Voices and the telltale thump of boots clipping across the porch stopped their conversation. In chorus they turned toward the door.
Rusty held the door open while Sam and another man came inside. Ty recognized the stranger as the one who’d alerted him of Robin’s accident––the same one Doc mentioned. Could this be the man who’d watched them from a distance? He appeared harmless enough. Ty nodded to Rusty and Sam. “Good job, men. Thanks.”
“Mr. Morgan? Uh . . .” Sam stepped closer to the man. “We didn’t ‘xactly catch him, sir. He was a sittin’ waitin’ on us. Just took us a spell to find him. I don’t reckon you’ll understand this, but . . .” He removed his hat and twisted it in his hands.
Ty’s spine tingled. He had a hunch whatever Sam was going to say was nothing he wanted to hear.
###
Something poked into Robin’s ear, and she flinched to move it away.
“Can you hear when you’re sleepin?”
Jacob! She struggled to open her eyes, and a giggle rewarded her efforts. “Did you stick your finger in my ear?” She smiled at the impish face before her. “It tickled, you know.”
“Could you hear me? I said ‘Robin, Robin,’ but you didn’t open your eyes.”
“I’m so sleepy it’s hard to wake up fast.”
He poked his elbows onto the bed and leaned closer. “I’m sorry you got hurted. Ty told me I can’t jump on your bed,
but I didn’t even want to. He’s dis’pointed cuz he wanted to come see you, but Doc said I could go first. Ty’s mouth did this.” Jacob used his fingers to pull his mouth down at the corners. “Then I told him I’d tell you he was dis’pointed and he did this.” He pushed his lips into a grin. “Can we go home when you get all waked up?”
Robin shook her head, and waves of pain threatened to throw her into the pit once more. She grabbed for Jacob’s hands to keep from plunging into the void.
“Um . . . That kinda pinches when you hold so tight.” Jacob’s breath brushed Robin’s cheek.
“I need to hang onto you, little man, so you won’t run away from me again.” The throb in her head couldn’t compare to the pain she would incur if anything ever happened to this little boy.
“Did you think I was running away? Would it make you sad?”
Robin squeezed his small hands. “Very, very sad.”
“I tried to catch up with Tripper and my . . .” He pulled on his hands, but she held tight.
“Jacob, who was the man with the dog? With Tripper? You know him, don’t you?” Could Emma hear this conversation? Should she call for Uncle John?
The boy’s face crumpled. “If I tell, will I be in trouble? Mama said he’d find us, but I couldn’t tell.” He sniffed. “I can’t wipe my nose when you hold my hands so tight.”
“If I let go, will you tell me who the man is? You won’t be in trouble. I promise.
Jacob sniffed again. “I guess you’ll have to hang on to ‘em, cuz I promised Mama, and it would make her sad if I told. I’ll wipe my drips like this.” He wiggled his face on his sleeve.
Robin attempted to focus on the boy’s face, but the room spun, taking Jacob’s image with it. “Jacob, is the man your pa?” Was that her voice? It seemed so far away. She slipped off the edge of the precipice into the deep again, and a small voice ricocheted off the walls as she tumbled.
“I don’t have a pa . . . pa . . . pa . . .”
###
Ty’s heart constricted as his gaze darted between Sam and the older man. His idea of who or what the stranger might be never wore a face so etched in care or eyes so full of sadness. The man stood straight and tall beside Sam. Older, by far, yet his broad shoulders and large hands suggested strength. Only when Doc Mercer shook his hand did the man’s eyes waver.
“Obed, my friend. Won’t you have a seat?”
The man gave a wan smile. “I believe Sam needs to be heard, then I’ll let Mister Morgan decide if I’m still welcome at his table.”
“Sam?” Ty nodded.
Sam’s shoulders straightened. “Sir, this here is Obed Mason.”
Ty gasped. “Mason?” Fear and dread wrenched his heart, and his pulse hammered in his ears.
“Yes, sir. This here is my pa.”
“Your pa?” Ty’s mind reeled. What about the dog? How did Jacob fit with both of these men. Jacob with his big blue eyes? Surely this Obed person wasn’t the boy’s pa, too?
John slammed his hand on the table and coffee sloshed from the cups. “Move your mouth enough to ask the man why he was sneakin’ around, Ty. I told you from the get-go the kid knew somethin’.”
Obed squared his shoulders. “Believe me, Mr. Wenghold. If I’d been sneaking, you would never have seen me.”
“You knew we were on to you?” Ty motioned for them to sit. “So why didn’t you come on in instead of just watching? Sam? Did you know it was your pa all along? Because if you did, young man, I’ve lost my trust in Rusty’s word.”
“You can leave my son of out it,” Obed said. “He hasn’t laid eyes on me for over ten years. Men change in that time and so do boys.” He put his hand on Sam’s shoulder. “He wasn’t keeping anything from anyone. I imagine the last person he expected to see out on this prairie was this old hill-man from Missouri.”
Rusty fingered the crease in his hat. “Boss, I done heard this story so if you don’t mind I’ll be checkin’ on things outside.”
“One question before you go, Rusty.” Ty pointed to Obed Mason. “Is this the same fella who rode in the night of the storm?”
Rusty shook his head. “No sir. Not the same man.” He put his arm around Sam’s shoulders. “Glad to be your friend, Sam Mason.” He nodded at Obed. “You, too sir. Just wish it would’ve had a better endin’ for ya.”
John leaned toward Obed. “What does he mean, better endin’? You got your son, didn’t ya? Or was you wantin’ somethin’ else?”
Obed folded his big hands on the table. “Finding Sam, here, was an act of grace on God’s part, Mr. Wenghold. I came looking for my girl, Sam’s twin sister.”
Ty frowned. “Twin? You told me your sister was younger, Sam.”
“She was, by five minutes.” He grinned.
John scowled. “I reckon you knowed by now there ain’t been but one woman around here all the whilst you been spyin’ around. What made ya think you’d be findin’ your little gal in these hills, anyway?”
Doc punched John in the shoulder. “You old piece of crow bait, let the man talk. I’ve already told you I know him so why are you acting like he’s an enemy?” He scooted his chair from the table and motioned for John to follow. “You cut us all another piece of Robin’s pie and I’ll pour the coffee.”
John shook his head. “I don’t aim to miss nothin’ this fella has to say. You wanna stuff your mouth to keep from yammerin’, then you go right ahead.”
Ty placed his hand on John’s arm. He loved this crusty old neighbor of his, but there were times he wanted to stuff a rag in his mouth. “I apologize for the interruptions, Mr. Mason. Please continue.”
Obed turned to John. “I knew where my girl was headed, Mr. Wenghold. She left a note in my barn telling me she was leaving Missouri. Said her man planned to start his own ranch in Kansas, and she was sorry for taking the wagon and horses. I left as soon as I could pack a little grub and a bedroll. I figured she had a good day’s travel ahead of me.”
“Ya up and lose her, did ya?” John crossed his arms. “One man a travelin’ on horseback shoulda been able to catch up with a team and heavy wagon if ya pushed.”
Ty shook his head. “John, please.”
“Oh, I pushed, Mr. Wenghold. But I didn’t want the lowdown weasel she was with to know I was following them.” Obed seemed to wrestle for control. His eyes dulled but never wavered as his gaze met Ty’s. “That’s my girl’s grave out on the prairie not so far from here. Sam’s sister.”
Sam bowed his head briefly.
Obed leveled his gaze at Ty. “Was it you who found her?”
Ty nodded. “The day after a twister went through these parts. We found her and Jacob. Still don’t know how he managed to escape. But how did you know it was your daughter? Jacob either couldn’t, or wouldn’t, give us a name to put on the marker.”
“I came across my team of horses dragging their harness close to fifteen miles east, near a town called Elmira.”
“Nobody with the team, I take it?”
“No one. The horses let me approach them. Called them by name, Pete and Charley, and they came right to me. Other than a couple of cuts they were in good enough shape. I led them on into Elmira and was able to sell one of them and the old horse I was riding to a farmer. I needed the money and a new mount. I threw my saddle on Charley and continued my search. Not the smoothest ride, but that horse could plod for days on end. I didn’t know how far I’d need to go, or how long it would take me. But I wasn’t going to quit until I found my girl.”
Ty nodded at John. “That answers why the horse he rode didn’t look like a cow pony.”
Obed shook his head. “Not many cow ponies in my part of Missouri. The horse I rode until then was the same one I rode to visit from church to church back in the hills. Didn’t need to be sleek or fast, just sure-footed.
“Go on, Mr. Mason.” Ty urged. “I’m sorry we keep interrupting. We had a lot of questions, and you’re answering them.”
“When I found the wagon all busted, and
no horses, I knew I’d found my girl. I didn’t even need to read the name on the marker.”
Ty’s spine tingled. “This man she was with—was he Jacob’s pa? He told us repeatedly that he didn’t have a pa.”
“I don’t suppose anyone could answer that question. After my wife died and Samuel took off, my girl turned real wild. I doubt she could’ve named which one of the untamed hill-bucks she kept company with fathered the boy.”
Ty studied his hands. What a difficult question for a father to have to answer. No wonder his eyes held such sadness. But what if the lowdown weasel he described returned and tried to claim Jacob. “Is there any chance this fella will show up and lay claim to the boy?”
Obed’s eyes brightened. “No chance at all. I found him before I found my girl. I don’t know if he got caught in the twister, or if his horse threw him. Maybe both. I found him at the bottom of a small ravine—dead. And, God help me, I left him for the animals. He’ll never be able to hurt my girl, or her little boy, again.”
“Ty, come quick. Robin waked up again and she—” Jacob leapt from the bottom step into the room. “Papaw?”
Ty’s heart constricted as the boy rushed into the older man’s embrace and flung his skinny little arms around his neck. Tears wet Obed’s face.
“I knew you’d find me. Mama said you would, but I wasn’t ever, ever supposed to tell. I didn’t tell. Never. Mama will be happy with me not telling, won’t she?”
Obed swiped at his cheeks. “Very happy with you, Jacob.”
“Mama went to sleep when it stormed.” He rubbed his eyes. “I couldn’t wake her up so Ty put her in a big hole.” He laid his head on Obed’s chest and scrunched his eyes.
Obed rubbed Jacob’s back.
“But then Robin and Ty found me. That makes us happy, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, it does, son.”
Jacob raised his head and clapped his hands. “Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. Ty’s supposed to go talk to Robin. Emma said.” He pulled Obed’s nose. “Rosy, Posy got your nosey.” He crammed his hand in his pocket and squirmed until his back rested on the older man’s chest, clasping the man’s big hands in front of him. “I didn’t jump on the bed, Ty.”
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