by Danni Roan
“Do we go on Molly?” Bill asked, looking between his wife and his daughter.
“I think it’s best if we do,” Molly said. “I think he’ll be alright, but he should see a doctor as soon as possible.”
Bill nodded, squeezing her arm. “Alright, you take the reins, and I’ll lead.”
Molly nodded once, and then climbed up into the wagon. “Sarah Jane stop your squalling and bandage that wound,” she said as she took up the lines and aimed the horses after her husband’s receding back.
“YOU THINK HE’LL REMEMBER us?” a boy’s voice invaded the buzzing noise in Titus’s brain.
“I don’t know he lost his memory when he got shot last time, do you think this is as bad.”
“If he forgets us Sarah Jane will be fit to be tied.”
Titus tried to move his head but the pounding in his brain only made him groan.
“He’s awake,” A loud voice clattered around in his head like a horseshoe in a bucket and he peeled one eye open.
“I’ll fetch Pa,”
“No I’ll do it,” The boys’ voices receded leaving Titus in blessed peace.
Blinking he tried to bring his world into focus but nothing seemed familiar.
He was in a bed with warm blankets and quilts pulled to his chin. He could feel a dull ache and twinge in his shoulder, but the pain in his head was enough to make him weep.
“You’re awake,” A gruff male voice, pitched below a whisper said and he peeked up to see a white haired man with a bushy mustache.
“You know where you are?” the man asked, lifting his wrist and looking at a watch.
“No.” Titus said, the pain in his head was easing a little, but he still felt light headed and disoriented.
“You’re in my office in Biders Clump,” the man said, gently placing Titus’s arm back under the blankets. “I’m doc Walker, and well, I think you’ll be alright.”
“You know your name?” the doctor asked, his voice still soft.
“Titus. They call me Titus.”
The older man smiled. “I think I’ll let your family see you now.” He said stepping back out of the room.
Suddenly everything came racing back. Sarah Jane, the Bentleys, the trail to Biders Clump.
His heart squeezed as his memory played back the soul wrenching cries of Sarah Jane when he’d been hit by the wagon.
“Titus.” Sarah Jane stepped in and took his hand, her mother close behind her.
“Bill?” Titus asked panic in his eyes.
“He’s fine,” Molly said with a sniff. “You saved him.”
Titus could feel some of the tension leaving him. They were safe; they were all safe in Biders Clump.
Sarah’s hand was warm and comforting in his and he smiled as he watched the whole family gather around him.
“You remember us don’t you?” Calvin asked in an overly loud voice.
“I remember,” Titus said with a grin as his eyes grew heavy and he drifted back to sleep.
“GIVE OVER SON,” BILL Bentley said three days later as he escorted a battered Titus along the street of the little town. “You can’t win.”
“But Mr. Bentley, I have nothing,” Titus argued.
“That doesn’t matter son,” Bill said. “You have what she wants, and what she needs.”
Titus shook his head then groaned as it throbbed threateningly.
“I don’t even have a name,” Titus insisted. For the last half hour he and Bill Bentley had been walking the sidewalks of the tiny town tucked up beneath the Rocky Mountains.
“She loves you Titus,” Bill insisted. “You’re not going to be able to change that.”
Titus shifted his hat over the heavy bandage on his head. As the pain of his injuries had receded he’d been feeling strange.
Some nights he’d have vivid dreams of people he didn’t know sitting around a table talking, laughing, and planning.
Two boys, both with blue eyes and light colored hair would appear before his eyes randomly making his head spin.
“You have a choice son,” Bill continued. “You can step up and admit how you feel or you can get on that horse and ride away leaving my baby girl with a broken heart.”
Titus dropped his gaze. Sarah Jane would not be the only one with a broken heart if he left.
How had he let this happen? How had his wayward heart turned to her when he knew it would never work? All of the arguments and reasons seemed to dance through his head and he grasped a railing to steady himself.
How could he ask a woman like Sarah Jane to love him when he had nothing for her? He didn’t even have answers for himself.
“You have to make a choice,” Bill repeated. “You either believe you can love her, or you don’t.” His dark eyes bore into Titus’s. “The rest will come in time.”
Turning Bill Bentley made his way back to his brother’s general store.
Titus had missed the reunion, being laid up in the doctor’s office for several days, but the family was thrilled to be together again.
Titus leaned against an upright over the board walk and gazed out across the town.
It was a nice town, well laid out and with a rail station bringing people and goods in and out.
“You look like a man with trouble.” George Olson said as he strolled by.
Titus smiled. He and the Bentley family were staying in the boarding house while they looked for a place of their own, and George and Polly Esther had been more than welcoming.
Titus touched the bandage on his head, but George shook his gray head and thumped his heart. “I’ve seen that look before,” he said, “and it can only mean one thing.”
Titus looked out across the street at the Grist Mill restaurant as a plump blonde woman stepped out onto the stoop taking a little boy from a woman with dark hair.
“Why don’t you come along, and I’ll see if Polly has any cookies for us.”
Titus smiled, he’d only been in town for a week and it was already obvious that the boarding house keeper loved his sweets.
The kitchen was blissfully quiet as George and Titus slipped inside.
“I’ll put the coffee on,” George said. “You sit a spell.”
Gratefully Titus took a seat at the long table and gazed around the house.
It was a comfortable house, well built and well cared for. He could see that the couple had established the home and boarding house to last.
“Now tell me what’s going on,” George said, sliding a plate of cookies onto the table and setting out cups.
Titus didn’t know what to say, so he sat staring into space.
“Alrighty then, I’ll say my piece,” George said fetching the coffee and pouring. “I just got one question for ya.” His dark eyes bore into the younger man. “Do you love her?”
Titus opened his mouth ready to protest, ready to deny it, but looking at the other man he couldn’t do it. “I do.” He finally admitted to George and to himself.
“Son, you might not think you have anything to offer that girl, but you’d be surprised what one man’s decisions can do.”
Titus studied the old man as he lifted a cookie to his lips.
“Take this town for instance. It wasn’t always here, but it’s home to a load of folks now. This town was started when one man and his family decided to stop and rest before heading over that impressive pass up yonder.” George said pausing to sip his coffee.
“The tale goes that he was weary and decided to bide a while in a clump of trees here while the rest of his wagon train made the assent. I’m pretty sure that when he stopped he felt it was the best thing for his family, but he didn’t plan on it becoming a town or a place where weary travelers could stop and rest.”
Titus looked at George understanding his point. One decision could change his life forever.
Chapter 31
“GO ON,” GEORGE POKED Titus with his elbow as they finished dinner. “Outside with ya.” His dark eyes twinkled and Titus caught the wink he shot at his
wife who smiled knowingly.
Rising Titus leaned over and whispered something in Sarah Jane’s ear, a moment later they were walking down the hall and out onto the front porch.
“Titus please don’t say it,” Sarah Jane said turning toward him her dark eyes full of pain. “I don’t want your excuses anymore. I told you I love you, and you can’t change that; not with all the logic in the world.
Titus stepped up close to Sarah Jane, seeing the soft frosted puff of her breath as he pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
Sarah Jane’s breath caught in her throat as tears threatened. He was going to say good-bye, he was going to leave, and she would never be the same.
Smoothing the wayward lock one more time Titus leaned forward placing his lips over Sarah Jane’s and silencing the sob that threatened.
It was time to give up; to stop fighting what his heart knew was right.
Hot tears touched his cheek and he pulled back looking into Sarah Jane’s startled face.
“I’ll stay,” he said simply, brushing a tear away with his thumb. “I can’t fight it anymore Sarah Jane, you’ve stolen my heart.”
Sarah Jane wrapped her arms around Titus holding him tight, feeling his arms come around her the way they were meant to be.
Sniffing, she finally pulled back. “No Titus,” she said, shocking him. “You don’t need to stay.” A smile broke across her face, and he gaped trying to understand what she was saying. “I’ll go.”
“You don’t have to do that?” he said, pulling Sarah Jane to him again.
Titus “We’ll find your family, we’ll find out where you came from.” Sarah Jane insisted.
“Sarah Jane, do you know what that will mean?”
Sarah Jane nodded, snuggling close and enjoying his warmth in the cold night. “I’ve already started,” she said, “I’ve sent letters, and we’ll start at the beginning.”
“Sarah ...” he gasped.
“Titus I love you. Maybe it wasn’t the kind of mad romance people talk about or dream about, but it is real love, and I want to be with you forever.”
Titus lifted her chin, bending close and kissing her again feeling the holes in his heart begin to knit.
MOLLY BENTLEY SNIFFED softly as her daughter walked down the aisle on her father’s arm, and her sister-in-law patted her arm.
Titus stood before pastor Dalton a broad smile on his handsome face as he watched the most beautiful, clever, and stubborn woman in the world walk toward him.
He didn’t have much to offer, but he knew he’d give her everything he had.
A moment later Bill placed Sarah Jane’s hand in Titus’s and he knew his world was coming together like never before.
Pastor Dalton cleared his throat and smiled, as he read the liturgy watching as the town’s people nodded and awed in approval.
As he reached the vows he turned to Titus solemnly.
“Do you Titus...”the preacher stopped, looking down at his notes then looking at the couple before him in confusion.
“Do you Titus...” he tried again.
Rising on tiptoes, Sarah Jane leaned forward and whispered “Smith”.
“Do you Titus Smith take Sarah Jane Bentley to be your lawfully wedded wife?” the preacher asked.
Titus looked at Sarah Jane questioningly. “Smith?” he asked on a breath.
“Why not, there are plenty of Smiths and Jones,” she smiled.
Pastor Dalton looked between the two waiting expectantly. Titus smiled squeezing Sarah Jane’s hand, “I do,” he announced loudly.
“And do you Sarah Jane Bentley take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do,” Sarah Jane said with a smile that lit up the whole church.
“Then I now pronounce you man and wife,” Pastor Dalton said. “You may kiss the bride.”
Titus took Sarah Jane by the waist pulling her close then leaned down his eyes meeting hers. “Well Mrs. Smith,” he said, “I guess this is it.” He finished kissing her soundly to the cheers of the people in the church.
Epilogue
SARAH JANE TOOK MICHAEL’S hand in hers then reached down to Abby. The children had been enthralled with the town as they’d rolled into it in the wagon her father had given her years earlier, and she’d been drawn to the general store almost instantly.
“You two be on your best behavior now,” she chided then cast a look over her shoulder at Titus who stood hat in hand nervously behind her.
Dropping her son’s hand she rapped on the door soundly then stepped back waiting.
For the past five years she and Titus had been following leads from town to town trying to discover his past. Since the accident over the pass to Biders Clump, he’d had flashes of memory, but nothing had solidified in his brain.
“Maybe they’re closed,” Titus said, his eyes weary. After so long, he’d almost given up hope of ever finding any clues to his past.
“It’s a general store,” Sarah Jane said. “They don’t close very often.”
A soft rattle inside made them all turn and looking around as an older woman, her nearly white hair piled high on her head opened the door.
“Hello.” She said, looking up then covering her mouth with a plump hand.
“Titus.” The older woman said, bright tears springing to her eyes as she took in the lean man and reached for him. “It’s you, it’s really you,” She said as the tears poured forth, and she wrapped the lean man in her arms.
“Ma’am,” Titus said, looking to Sarah Jane for help.
“Oh, heavens, You don’t know who I am do you?” the woman said. “No you wouldn’t.” She looked around smiling at the children and Sarah Jane. “Please come in,” she gestured. “We were just sitting down to lunch.”
Taking her children by the hand Sarah Jane followed the matron through a well stocked and orderly store and around a corner into a pleasant modern kitchen.
“Boys, I have a surprise for you,” she said.
Titus stepped into the kitchen his eyes falling on a small table where three men sat over their lunch.
“Titus!” The youngest of the three looked up and his blue eyes, exactly like Titus’s own were full of awe.
For several moments Titus stood blinking as images raced each other through his brain, images of both of the younger men as boys, riding the old mule or racing to the fishing hole.
“It’s me Abner,” the young man said, pushing his sandy brown hair from his eyes.
“Abner,” Titus said. Touching the card that he carried in his breast pocket then turning to look at the other man. “You’re, you’re Nathan,” he said, his tongue stumbling over the name.
Abner moved around the table reaching out and pulling Titus into a hug. “We thought you were dead,” he choked.
“Ma, Pa.” he said releasing Titus. “This is our brother Titus.”
For a moment the whole room spun and Titus leaned against the doorjamb as everything came racing back.
Sarah Jane moved to his side wrapping an arm around him and offering him her support.
“Boy’s get us some more chairs,” the older man said, and both Abner and Nathan sprang to comply.
“Miss you come sit here,” he said. “I’m Silas Martin and this is my wife Beulah. I think we have a lot of catching up to do.”
Sarah helped Titus to a chair then beckoned the children to her picking Abby up and placing her on her knee while Michael snuggled close.
Abner and Nathan returned carrying two folding chairs and took their places at the table.
“I knew you right away,” Beulah said, gazing at Titus through teary eyes. “You look so like your brothers who else could you be?”
Abner smiled reaching out and patting Beulah’s hand.
“When you left me and Nate found work just like you said for us to.” Abner said, “I came here and took a job with Silas and Beulah then they went and fetched Nathan from a farm over on the other side of the valley.”
Titus looked between
the two young men, his eyes misty. He remembered leaving in desperation, trying to find enough work to bring his family back together.
“I remember,” he said thickly looking at Sarah Jane who reached out and squeezed his hand hard. “I remember.”
The End
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About the Author
About the Author
Danni Roan, a native of western Pennsylvania, spent her childhood roaming the lush green mountains on horseback. She has always loved westerns and specifically western romance and is thrilled to be part of this exciting genre. She has lived and worked overseas with her husband and tries to incorporate the unique quality of the people she has met throughout the years into her books. Although Danni is a relatively new author on the scene she has been a story teller for her entire life, even causing her mother to remark that as a child “If she told a story, she had to tell the whole story.” Danni is truly excited about this new adventure in writing and hopes that you will enjoy reading her stories as much as she enjoys writing them.
Read more at Danni Roan’s site.