“This ring is new, never worn before,” the store clerk explained. “We had a young man in town who was to be wed. He was a jeweler and created this ring himself.”
“What happened?” Tyler asked.
“His young lady ran off. He was heartbroken, but said this ring deserved to fit the finger of a woman in love.” The man smiled. “Might it work for you?”
Tyler nodded. “I believe it would.” He thought the small ring would be a perfect fit for Carissa. “I’ll take it.”
The man took the ring. “I have a lovely little box we can put it in.” He went to his desk and rummaged in a drawer, then produced a small velvet-lined leather box. The piece itself was a work of art.
Though Tyler left the store considerably poorer than when he’d entered, he felt a great sense of satisfaction. He patted the box in his pocket and clutched the paper-wrapped doll. Now he had a purpose and a direction to his life. Now his future was about more than fighting to get his ranch back. It was about a family.
The weeks on the trail had changed him. There’d been a shift, where God worked within his heart to show him what truly mattered. He thought of his father for a moment. Tyler’s anger over his death seemed lessened by the love he felt for Carissa and Gloria. He couldn’t bring his father back by acting on his rage, but he could bring new life for Carissa and her daughter by allowing love to grow.
William was heading toward him. “I got the wire sent,” he announced. Two very dirty cattlemen pushed past him as they headed toward the nearest saloon. William ignored their rudeness and looked to Tyler. “We probably won’t hear anything for a day or so. I hate to delay the return, but I’d really like to know what we’re heading into.”
Tyler nodded. “Knowin’ the sheriff, he’ll get right back to us. Maybe even today.”
“Either way, the earliest we can leave is in the morning, at this rate. Osage is securing the wagon with the provisions we’ll need and anything else we want to take back. I see you have a package under your arm, so your shopping must have gone well.”
Tyler smiled and reached into his pocket. “I found a pretty doll for Gloria and this for Carissa.” He dug into his pocket and pulled out the leather box.
William looked at it for a moment and frowned. “What is it?”
“Open it and see.”
He took the box and carefully unhooked the tiny latch. William’s eyebrows rose considerably at the sight of the ring. “This mean what I think it does?”
Tyler drew a deep breath. “I’m gonna marry her.”
William grinned. “I hope you know what you’re gettin’ yourself into.” He handed the box back to Tyler and nodded his approval. “Seems like we ought to celebrate. How about I buy you the best steak in town?”
“I think I’d like that. I’ve worked up quite an appetite shoppin’.”
Tyler woke early the next morning and found William had already left the room. For a moment he stretched in the bed, relishing the feel of the clean sheets. It sure beat sleeping on the ground. He smiled and thought again of the gifts he had purchased for Carissa and Gloria. Would they like them? Would Carissa say yes to his proposal of marriage?
When they had first met, Tyler had been more interested in her sister Laura, and prior to that it had been Hannah. But he came to realize that Hannah and Laura reminded him of his mother in certain ways. They were sensible, matter-of-fact women who saw a need and took care of it. Carissa, on the other hand, needed someone to take care of her, and Tyler liked that idea. Of course, when they’d first met, Carissa was already married to Malcolm Lowe, and though Tyler thought her quite pretty, he respected the sanctity of marriage and went no further in his thoughts.
Now Lowe was dead, leaving Carissa a widow with a child, and Tyler was certain he was in love. He knew there would be obstacles to overcome. Carissa was reluctant to trust anyone. He knew that she feared men and preferred to keep to her own company or that of her sister. But he hoped that the time she spent at the Barnett ranch would help her to come out of her shell a bit.
Getting up, Tyler stretched again and thought of the long ride home. How he wished there were a railroad that ran the full length of Kansas to Texas. How pleasant it would be to just board a train and be home in a matter of days instead of weeks.
Tyler dressed and gathered his things and made his way downstairs. If he knew William, they would leave as soon as he had a reply to the telegram he’d sent yesterday. Brandon, too, was chomping at the bit to head back. He was uneasy about Laura and had been restless for days.
“If you’re lookin’ for your friend,” the hotel clerk said, “he’s in having breakfast. Said to tell you to join him if I saw you.”
Tyler nodded. “Thanks, mister.” He made his way across the hotel lobby to the adjoining dining area. Spotting William across the room, Tyler made his way through the crowd of other diners and pulled out a chair.
“Guess you’re savin’ this for me,” he said, grinning. Tyler sat down and nodded to William’s uneaten plate of food. “Not hungry? I feel like I could eat a buffalo.”
A young woman came to see what Tyler would have. “Coffee, to start,” he replied. “Then bring me a plate like his.” The thick beefsteak, fried eggs, and potatoes seemed to beckon to Tyler.
The woman nodded and quickly returned with a cup of coffee. The entire time William had said nothing, and Tyler chalked it off to his wanting to be on the road. “So how soon you reckon we can leave?”
William looked up just as Tyler took a long drink of the strong, black coffee. Tyler got a strange feeling that something wasn’t right. He put the cup down and looked hard at his friend. “What’s going on? Is there a problem?”
“I had a telegram.”
Tyler frowned and immediately the skin on the back of his neck tingled. “Guess the Indian troubles are worse than we expected?”
William slumped back in his chair. “They aren’t good, but that’s just a part of it.”
Tyler leaned forward. “So tell me what’s going on.” He eyed William’s plate with growing hunger. “I guess it’s bad enough you’ve lost your appetite.”
“You will, too,” William replied. “I’ve sent Osage to rally the men—at least those who are going back with us. I’m expecting Brandon to join me here anytime now. I sent the clerk to wake him.”
“William, you’ve never been one for beatin’ around the bush, so how about you just tell me what’s going on before I lose my mind tryin’ to guess.”
His friend nodded. “Brandon’s wife had the baby early. They’re both in a bad way, it sounds.”
Tyler shook his head. He’d never anticipated something so grave. “I am sorry. What happened?”
William shook his head. “I don’t know. The telegram was brief.”
“And now you have to tell Brandon.” Tyler sat back and crossed his arms. This was not going to be easy. Brandon would be anxious to get back to Laura, and there were nearly five hundred miles between them.
“Maybe you shouldn’t tell him, Will. Maybe we should get on our way first. I mean, if the worst happens there isn’t anything that he can do about it.”
“Would you want me to keep bad news from you?” William asked.
“Well, no. I guess I would want the truth, no matter how hard it was to hear.”
William leaned forward. “I’m glad to know it, because I have to tell you something as well.”
Tyler shook his head. He couldn’t imagine anything as bad as having a wife and baby sick. “Me?” Then he felt his chest tighten. “Has something happened to Carissa?”
“No. It’s nothing like that,” William replied, his voice tight. “I’m sorry, Tyler. There’s just no easy way to say this. You’ve lost the ranch. The county sold it out from under you.”
For just a moment the words didn’t register. Tyler looked at William, trying to make sense of it all. “Sold it to whom?” It was the only question he could think to ask.
“I don’t know. The sheriff didn�
�t say. He just put in that the county had sold it and wanted you to know in case . . . well . . . in case you preferred Kansas, I guess.”
Tyler felt like his legs had been kicked out from under him. Just then the waitress brought his breakfast. She set two plates down in front of him, one for the steak and one with everything else. She smiled and promised more coffee before leaving the two men.
“I’m a Texan,” Tyler said, staring at the food. “At least I used to be.”
“Look, I don’t know who bought the place, but maybe I can buy it from them. I know Judge Peevy has been doing everything he could to get the land back for you, but apparently it was out of his hands.”
Brandon joined them at that moment and the young woman brought more coffee. Tyler was just as glad for the diversion. He couldn’t think. Couldn’t breathe. What is this all about, God? Why have you forsaken me?
He looked across the table and saw William speaking to Brandon. The man’s face went white, and Tyler knew Will had just delivered the blow. He shook his head, unable to say anything. The look of shock on Brandon’s face and the worry on William’s was enough to finish off any thoughts of eating. Tyler pushed back from the table.
“I gotta get out of here,” he said, knocking the chair over backward as he pushed his way through the room.
16
Well, we certainly weren’t expecting to see you folks today,” Hannah declared as Ted Terry helped his wife down from the wagon.
“Kiowa are on the warpath,” he said in a matter-of-fact manner that still managed to shock Carissa to the bone.
She looked at the riders about him and noted they were well armed. “Are they headed this way?” she asked.
“Who can say?” Ted replied.
Marietta came to where Carissa and Hannah stood. “Now, we’re not gonna borrow trouble, girls. We’re just takin’ some precautions.”
“That’s why we’re here,” Ted told Hannah. “I was hopin’ Marietta could stay with you until this trouble blows over. I can keep my mind on other things if she’s here with you.”
“Of course she can stay,” Hannah declared. “You know that. All of you can stay. I think it would be safer than returning to the ranch.”
Ted shook his head. “I have to protect what’s mine. Won’t be the first time and probably won’t be the last. I just wanted to get Marietta to safety. I left some men on alert at the ranch, and now we’re headin’ into town to let the sheriff know what’s happening. I’m hopeful he’ll get the army notified and they can deal with the matter.”
“Do you think they will?” Hannah questioned.
“I do. There’s a strong push to round up the Indians. All of them, no matter the tribe. Phil Sheridan is in charge now, and he’s determined.”
“What’s got the Indians so stirred up?” Carissa asked.
“Mostly Sheridan’s demands they all head to reservations.” Ted shook his head. “Doesn’t seem to be any peaceable way to live side by side. The Indians hate us for being on their land and killing their game. The whites hate them for making war on ’em and stealing their livestock. It’s a vicious cycle that doesn’t look to stop anytime soon. Just when the army thinks they have a good hold on things, something happens and the war flares up again. I don’t know what it’ll take to put an end to it.”
“I read in the paper that Sheridan believes if they eliminate the buffalo, they will eliminate the Indians,” Hannah said.
“He did say that, and he has even encouraged buffalo hunters to come west,” Marietta added. “His plan is to wipe out the herds and leave the Indians hungry enough that they’ll have no choice but to return to the reservations.”
Hannah shook her head. “I don’t see this war ending anytime soon. I’m afraid we are just seeing the beginning of hard times.”
Carissa bit her lip to keep from saying anything. She thought of the children and how vulnerable they were here, so far from town. Not only that, but Laura remained gravely ill and tiny Lucas still fought to live. How could they ever get those two to safety if they needed to leave the ranch?
“I’d take precautions if I were you,” Ted instructed. “I’ll speak to Berto myself, but if I were you gals, I’d store up plenty of water and food in the house. And get the windows covered just in case.”
Carissa saw Hannah nod but didn’t hear her response. Her thoughts went to Tyler and his hatred of the entire Indian population. If she or the others were hurt in a raid, he would never get over it. His anger over the Indians’ murder of his father had eaten holes in his heart. What would this do?
She drew a deep breath and tried to force herself to be calm. Tyler had no way of knowing the peril they were in, but even so, Carissa couldn’t help but pray he and the other men would return soon. They were due back most anytime. William had sent a wire earlier when they’d reached Abilene. Surely it wouldn’t be all that long now.
“I just hope the men don’t run into any war parties on the way home,” Hannah said, immediately catching Carissa’s attention.
Looking at her hostess, Carissa felt all pretense of calm escape her. Ted’s serious expression told Carissa she’d find no comfort from him. He, too, was worried for the men.
Later that day as Carissa wiped Laura’s body with cool compresses, Marietta joined her to offer a hand.
“It’s a good sign she’s come this far,” Marietta said, taking up a pan of water and a cloth rag. “I think she’ll pull through this if we just keep getting fluids down her.”
Carissa glanced at her sister’s pale face. She seemed so small and childlike in the large bed. “I’m so afraid.” She glanced over at Marietta. “For her, for us. I know it might sound foolish to stew and fret over things for which I have no control, but I can’t seem to help myself.”
“I understand. Our men are in danger. We’re in danger. It’s just a part of life here on the Texas frontier,” Marietta said. She offered Carissa a bit of a smile. “But you know, it’s the life we’ve chosen. Maybe not you so much, but the rest of us.”
“I’ve chosen it, as well. I just bought Tyler’s ranch.” Carissa continued ministering to her sister. “I signed an obligation to live there for five years.”
“Whatever caused you to do that?”
“He would have lost it otherwise. The decision had been made to sell it. Judge Peevy told me it was to be sold off right away. I couldn’t just let it go.” She looked at Marietta. “Do you think I was wrong to do it?”
Marietta shrugged. “Who can say? Frankly, I’m glad you did it. Keeps a chance for Tyler to get it back. Still, I’m not so sure he’ll see it that way.”
Carissa shook her head and stopped wiping her sister’s arm. “What do you mean?”
“Well, a man likes to do things for himself,” Marietta began. “Tyler might resent you taking charge of the matter.”
“But if I hadn’t, the property would have gone to strangers. Surely he would prefer I buy it. At least this way he can run the place.”
Marietta smiled in a motherly fashion. “Carissa, if all these years of marriage have taught me anything, it’s that you can never tell how a man is going to see a matter. Tyler might be grateful for what you did, but he also might feel grouchy that a woman had to pull his bacon from the fire. That’s hard for a man. Believe me. I’ve had to do similar things for Ted from time to time, and it’s always been a subject of irritation between us.”
“That’s silly,” Carissa said, dipping her cloth in the cool water. She put the rag to her sister’s head and was surprised when Laura opened her eyes.
“How do you feel?” Carissa asked.
Laura tried to lick her lips. “Water, please.”
Carissa quickly complied. She had worked tirelessly to get fluids into her sister, and for Laura to request them herself was nigh onto a miracle. She helped Laura drink from a small tin cup.
“The doctor says that the more you drink, the quicker you’ll rally.”
Laura shook her head. “I’m so tired.”
“Do you think you could eat a little soup?” Marietta questioned. “It will help you regain your strength.”
“I’ll try.” Laura’s voice was weak and barely audible. “Where are my . . . boys? I want to see them.”
Carissa went to the bed box and retrieved the sleeping infant. “Lucas is right here,” she said placing the baby beside Laura on the bed. “I’ll get Daniel.”
“No, I’ll get him,” Marietta said, getting to her feet. “And the soup.”
Laura tried to reach up and touch her son’s face, but she appeared too weak. Carissa took hold of her sister’s hand and helped her. “He’s a fighter, Laura. Just like you.”
“Will he live?”
“I determined a long time ago that both of you would,” Carissa replied. “Laura, you’ve come through the worst of it, and now it’s time to put all of your energy into getting well. Your sons need you . . . Brandon needs you.”
“Is he here?” Laura asked, her voice a little stronger.
“Not yet, but they are on their way. The men should be home any day now.” She knew there was no way of telling whether this was the truth of the matter, but it was what they all anticipated. Hopefully they would see it come true in a short time.
Just then Daniel came into the room with Hannah. “So she’s awake,” Hannah said, lifting Daniel to the bed.
“Mama.” He fell upon her breast and clutched her tight. “Mama.”
“I’m here, Daniel,” Laura whispered. She looked to Carissa. “If I don’t make it, please . . . promise me you’ll help Brandon and the boys.”
“You’re going to make it.” Carissa refused to think otherwise.
“She’s right, you know,” Hannah interjected. “The worst is over. Your fever is down and now you can start building your strength. Your boys need you, Laura.”
Laura looked briefly to Hannah and then back to her sons. She closed her eyes. “I know.”
Tracie Peterson - [Land of the Lone Star 03] Page 15