Blood Ties: A Texas Ranger Will Kirkpatrick Novel

by James J. Griffin

  “I’m sure you boys are more than ready for your washings,” she said. “Master William, your sister will be so happy you came home for her wedding. She really didn’t expect you, of course. I’ve got to get dinner started. We’ll chat later.”

  “I wouldn’t miss Susie’s wedding for all the renegades in Texas,” Will answered. “Thanks for the water and towels, Delia. Me’n Jonas’ll see you at dinner.”

  “I’ll see you then.”

  As soon as Delia closed the door behind her, Will and Jonas went over to the wash stand.

  “Will, I’ve been meanin’ to tell you, and finally remembered. Thanks for not tellin’ the sheriff or judge back in Pecos I’d tried to kill you,” Jonas said. “If you had, I’d’ve been on my way to Huntsville for certain. I’m much obliged you didn’t bring that up.”

  “I didn’t think it was necessary,” Will answered. “You were merely scared out of your wits. I might’ve done the same if the boot was on the other foot. Besides, we’re even on that score.”

  “We are? How?” Jonas asked.

  “You didn’t tell Delia the real reason I came home…that I had no choice,” Will explained.

  “Like you just said about me, I didn’t see any reason to,” Jonas answered. “Boy howdy, that hot water’s sure gonna feel good. Let’s get to work.”

  Will and Jonas stood side by side at the wash stand. They removed their dirty socks and shirts, then tossed them on the floor. Each poured water from a pitcher into a basin, then took a washcloth and bar of soap, worked up a lather, and started washing their hair, then their faces, necks and upper torsos. Will had just ducked his head into the basin to rinse the soap out of his hair when the door to his room burst open.

  “Will! You came home for my wedding!” his sister Susan shouted. She ran across the room. Will turned and caught her just as she flung herself at him. “Let me look at you.”

  “Susie! We’re not decent,” he exclaimed, as she grabbed him and spun him around. For his part, Jonas picked up his shirt and hastily pulled it on.

  “I’ve seen you without a shirt on lots of times, big brother,” Susan retorted. She glanced at Jonas, whose fingers fumbled in his attempts to button his shirt. “As far as being decent, your friend looks quite decent to me.”

  Jonas flushed bright red.

  “Susie! You’re engaged,” Will said. “Plus if Mother ever heard you talkin’ like that, she’d have a conniption. And Father would disown you.”

  “Pshaw! I’m tired of Mother and her impossible standards. As far as Father, he wouldn’t dare disown me. Not when I’m marrying the only son of the largest rancher in Gillespie and Kerr Counties. He’d be too afraid Harvey’s father would pull his money out of the bank.”

  “Still, what if me’n Jonas didn’t have our britches on when you burst in on us, unannounced?” Will answered.

  “Then I’d have left immediately…after taking a good look at Jonas,” Susan answered, a wicked smile crossing her face. “Now that your friend seems to have managed to button his shirt, are you going to introduce us?”

  “I reckon I should,” Will said. “Susan, this is my ridin’ pardner, Jonas Peterson. Jonas, my sister Susan.”

  “Charmed, I’m sure, Mr. Peterson,” she said, as Jonas took her hand.

  “It’s an honor to meet you, Miss Kirkpatrick,” Jonas said.

  “Please, call me Susan, or better still, Susie. Mother and Father hate it, but they’ve given up trying to change me. May I call you Jonas?”

  “Of course.”

  “There, that’s settled. Will, it’s so good to see you again. When you rode off and joined the Texas Rangers, I was certain you’d never come back home. Not that I’d blame you.”

  “I can see that you and your sister would like to talk, Will,” Jonas said. “I think I’ll go outside and wander around. Look this place over.”

  “That’s not at all necessary,” Susan said. “There’s nothing my brother and I have to hide. I’m certain I can also count on your discretion, Jonas.”

  “You have my word.”

  “Fine.” Susan turned her attention back to her brother. “Will, you’re looking wonderful, all fit and tan…except for that awful scar on your cheek. You’ve put on a lot of muscle. You could never have done that working for Father.”

  “That’s what comes from hard ridin’ and fresh air,” Will said. “But you know that’s not the reason I left home. I could never stand workin’ indoors, which was the only option I would have had if I’d stayed in this town. The scar came from a horse thief’s bullet, who didn’t want to give himself up when I tried to arrest him. He wasn’t as lucky as me. I drilled him dead center.”

  “I have to admit, it does give you a certain, rugged je ne sais quoi,” Susan said. “I would imagine the ladies find it quite attractive. Well, perhaps not the kind of ladies Mother would want you to associate with.”

  “Susie!” Will exclaimed again. To Jonas he said, “You’ll have to excuse my sister. She has always been a bit…unconventional.”

  “Go ahead and say it, Will. I’m a rebel,” Susan answered. “The only reason I’ve been able to get away with so many things other girls can’t is because I’m the only daughter, with three brothers.”

  “That, and ever since you turned fifteen you’ve been shamelessly throwin’ yourself at Harve Prescott, who is both the social and financial catch of Gillespie County.” Will answered. “If I didn’t know you better, little sister, I’d say this is more of a business partnership between Father’s bank and the Rocking P, than a marriage.”

  “You make me sound like a gold digging trollop, who is only interested in marrying for money,” Susan protested. “I’ll have you know Harvey and I are very much in love, William Howard Kirkpatrick.”

  “I’m glad to hear that,” Will said. “I wish you and Harve nothin’ but many years of happiness.”

  “Thank you. I must say, however, that if anyone in this family is the true rebel it’s you, Will. Defying Mother’s and Father’s wishes by running off and joining the Texas Rangers, rather than going to work at Father’s bank, and eventually taking over as its president.”

  “I would have suffocated being behind a desk keeping track of figures all day long, Susie,” Will answered. “Plus I’d never have gotten out from under Father’s thumb. Joining the Rangers is the best thing I’ve ever done. It’s the life I’ve always wanted, the one I chose, and I live it. I’m helpin’ make Texas safer for honest folks. It’s just a shame I’ll never be able to make our parents understand that. Besides, Father has Jerry and Bert to take over the bank. They’re both more than happy to be bankers. He doesn’t need me.”

  “As long as you’re happy.”

  “I am. Very happy. Of course, Father will never understand. Mother either. Listen, Susie, me’n Jonas rode a long way in a short time to get here, and we’re plumb tuckered out. Do you mind if we finish washin’ up so we can get some shut-eye before dinner? We’ll have plenty of time to talk later, or tomorrow.”

  “Certainly, Will. I apologize. I should have realized you’d be exhausted after your journey. Has Mother heard you speaking like a cowboy yet?”

  “A little,” Will admitted. “She wasn’t too pleased about it.”

  “I would imagine she wasn’t,” Susan said, with a laugh. “Jonas, before I leave, would you like me to wash your back? I can reach the spots you can’t.”

  “Susie!” Will said. “And you’re worried about Mother hearin’ me talkin’ like a cowhand? If she ever heard you…”

  “She’d be scandalized, and probably faint dead away,” Susan finished for him. “Jonas? My offer still stands.”

  “That won’t be necessary,” Jonas answered. “I do thank you, however.”

  “Handsome, and gallant,” Susan said. “Perhaps I should run off and join the Rangers. All those attractive men…”

  “You try that and I’ll tan your bottom myself, little sister,” Will said.

  “I dare you to try it
,” Susan answered. “You needn’t worry. Living on the Rocking P with Harvey will be more than enough of the rancher’s life for me. I’m leaving now. I’ll see you both at dinner. Will you be dressing for it?”

  “In clean range clothes,” Will answered.

  “That should give Father apoplexy. I wasn’t very hungry, but now I wouldn’t miss dinner for the world. Nice meeting you, Jonas. You will be coming to my wedding, of course.”

  “If you’d like that.”

  “Of course I’d like that. In addition, it would be incredibly rude not to invite Will’s friend to the wedding…no matter what Mother, Father, and my other brothers think. There’s nothing like a bit of scandal to liven up a special day, and your being there will give the ladies of Kirkpatrick something to gossip about for weeks. Goodbye, for now.”

  Susan flounced out the door and slammed it behind her.

  “Boy howdy, your sister is sure somethin’, Will,” Jonas said. “She looks a lot like you, too. I’ll bet she’ll be a handful for her new husband.”

  “She sure is, and she sure will be. But Harve Prescott’s a real fine feller. I’d rather see Susie marry him than just about anyone else in these parts,” Will said. “All of us kids pretty much take after my mother, at least as far as looks go. Let’s finish cleanin’ up and get that sleep. We’ll be summoned downstairs before six-thirty. My father insists the family gather before dinner for drinks.”

  ****

  The knock on Will’s door came even earlier than he expected.

  “Master Will, your brothers are waiting for you in the library,” Peggy said, through the closed door. “They’d like to talk with you before your father does.”

  “Tell them I’ll be down in fifteen minutes, Peggy,” Will answered. “Thank you.”

  “Of course.”

  Peggy’s call had also awakened Jonas.

  “Suppertime already?” he asked, still groggy from sleep.

  “Not quite,” Will replied. “My brothers want to talk with me before he does. I wonder what about.”

  “Only way you’ll find out is to go talk to them,” Jonas pointed out.

  “You’re right. Let’s get dressed and get down there.”

  “You want me with you?”

  “Yep. Just in case things get ugly and I end up headin’ into town.”

  The two men put on clean underwear, socks, shirts, and neckerchiefs. They beat the dust out of their denims and hats, and brushed off their boots as best as possible. Jonas raised an eyebrow when Will buckled on his gunbelt.

  “You expectin’ to have a gunfight with your brothers?”

  “Not a chance,” Will answered. “They don’t ever go armed. But a lawman just don’t feel comfortable unless he’s wearin’ his sidearm. You’ll figure that out, in time.”

  Jonas shrugged, then put on his own gunbelt. He followed Will down the stairs, through the parlor, and into the walnut-paneled library. Two younger, and paler, versions of Will were standing alongside a heavy cherrywood sideboard. One of them closed the door.

  “Will,” the older of the two said, “I see you’ve decided to come back home.” The look on his face indicated he was far from pleased to see his brother.

  “Yeah, what brought you back?” the other man said. “Did you run out of money, so you came running the hell home, looking for a handout?”

  “No ‘howdy’?” Will answered. “Not even a damn introduction for my amigo? What’s the matter, boys?”

  “You’re what’s the matter, Will,” the first brother answered.

  “Jonas, I can see my brothers ain’t gonna get around to introducin’ themselves,” Will said. “The older one is Gerard. The one who’s already holdin’ a drink is Bertram.”

  “Will’s a good friend,” Jonas said. “It’s an honor to be able to meet his family.”

  He held out his hand, which Will’s brothers shook, perfunctorily.

  “It’s kind of welcome to see Will found a friend who’s like him,” Bert said. “A damn no-good drifter.”

  “A damn no-good drifter who’s now come back to take over the family bank, after me and Bert spent the past two years helpin’ our father build it into the most powerful financial institution in Kerr and Gillespie Counties,” Jerry added.

  “Listen, let’s get things straightened out right now,” Will said. His face was dark with anger. “I came home for Susie’s wedding, and that’s all. In fact, the only reason I’m here is because Father put pressure on my commandin’ officer to force me to show up. When I had a chance to think on it, I’m glad I did. I wouldn’t have wanted to hurt Susie. Just as soon as the weddin’s over, me’n Jonas are goin’ straight back to Austin. I’ve got no intention of ever quittin’ the Rangers. Now, is one of you at least gonna offer us a drink?”

  “You know where the liquor is, right in front of you,” Jerry said. “If you want a drink, pour yourself one.”

  “I reckon I’ll do just that.” Will picked up a cut crystal decanter from a tray on the sideboard, and filled two cut crystal glasses brim full. He passed one to Jonas.

  “To my brothers,” he said, lifting the glass. “Who are so very happy to see me return.”

  He downed the glass’s contents in one swallow.

  Jonas retreated to a corner of the room, where he sipped his drink. He wanted no part of this family disagreement. It was none of his affair.

  “Will, why exactly did you come back?” Bert repeated. “You made it plain when you left you no longer wanted any part of this family.”

  “I did no such thing,” Will answered. “I told Father I had no desire to spend my life as a banker, sittin’ behind a desk, countin’ money, keepin’ track of figures, and foreclosin’ on folks who, through no fault of their own, fell on hard times, because of drought, floods, blizzards, or just plain bad luck. When I said I wanted to strike out on my own and become a lawman, he told me in no uncertain terms I was no longer welcome here, and might as well forget I had a family. ‘You can go straight to Hell, for all I care’, were his exact words. Mother pleaded with me to stay, but she finally gave in.

  “I’m not the one who wanted to cut ties… they did. You two were also pretty damn happy when I left, since that meant you’d both move up in the bank faster. For some reason, y’all seem to think I’m angry about that. Nothin’ could be further from the truth. I love bein’ a Ranger, and I’ll stay a Ranger as long as I can sit a horse and fire a gun. Susie’s the only one who understood that, and who said I was doin’ the right thing when I left home.

  “Bert, like I just said, I came home for Susie’s wedding, plain and simple. Me’n Jonas’ll be headin’ back to Austin Sunday or Monday. I’d like to leave here on good terms with my family. It’s up to you all whether that happens or not.”

  Will poured himself another drink. The room fell into an awkward silence. Jonas pretended to be deeply engrossed in studying the books on the shelves, and the family portraits on one wall. He turned when the door opened, and a man, clearly Will’s father, came into the room.

  While Will did not resemble his father nearly as closely as him mother, the relationship was still obvious. He had Will’s build, except age had given him a slight paunch, and silver tinged the hair at his temples. He wore a full, salt-and-pepper beard, and was dressed in an expensive businessman’s suit. A gold chain was draped across his middle, one end going into his vest pocket, where it was attached to a heavy turnip watch. A wedding band was on his left ring finger, and a large diamond ring on his right. He walked straight to the sideboard and poured himself a sherry.

  “William,” he said, after downing most of his drink. “You came home, after all. I half expected you to ignore my summons. You always were an obstreperous child.”

  “I would have ignored your demands, Father, except you got to Cap’n Hunter, and left neither one of us a choice,” Will answered. “Despite that, I still wouldn’t have come home if it weren’t for Susie. She stood up for me when no one else would. I damn sure wouldn’t w
ant to hurt her by not attending her wedding.”

  “I assume that means you still haven’t shown the intelligence God gave you, quit the Rangers, and come back to work in the bank.”

  “The intelligence God gave me is the reason I joined the Rangers. I didn’t want to spend my life under your thumb, doin’ a job I hated. It’s not like you didn’t have Jerry and Bert.”

  “Gerard and Bertram. They’ve outgrown childhood nicknames, just like you. I know that they stayed with me, and I’m grateful to them. Still, the oldest son’s place is working in the family business, and taking it over when the time comes. You haven’t been home to learn this, of course, but I intend to run for State Senator come the next election. How will it look, if my firstborn son is doing a common lawman’s job, chasing criminals, rather than pursuing a real career? What will I tell the voters?”

  “You might try the truth,” Will said. “Tell them I’m doing what I want, and that I’m helping rid Texas of the dangerous element so common in this state, so it will be safer for honest folks. My bein’ a Ranger is no reflection on this family. It’s not like I’m out robbin’ trains or rustlin’ cattle.”

  “It’s below your social station.”

  “That’s what’s always been the most important thing for you, hasn’t it, Father? Money and position. I’d bet my hat State Senator is just the start for you. You won’t be satisfied until you’re elected Governor, or maybe United States Senator. If that’s what you want, I hope you succeed. But you’ll have to satisfy your political ambitions without me. I’m happy with my life, I’m helping people, and I intend to remain a Ranger as long as I can ride a horse and shoot a gun.”

  “I see. Then, there’s nothing further to discuss, is there?”

  “Not as far as I’m concerned,” Will answered. “You, Mother, Susie, Jerry, and Bert are my family, and I still care deeply about all of you, whether or not you choose to believe that. Whether you all care to reciprocate is up to you. But I’m gonna live my life as I damn well please, no matter what.”

  “Don’t expect me to give you any money, if you run short,” his father warned.