* * *
Later that evening, Granny and Rose were in the kitchen popping corn for the tree, while Addie and the children worked on the decorations at the kitchen table.
“Where did the men go?” Granny asked.
“Judge is gone again, and Morgan went to look for him,” Rose said.
“Jack said he needed to do some work in the barn,” Addie said.
“Maybe I should go help Pa,” David said.
Addie wanted David to enjoy the evening working on decorations with his sisters. She knew it wouldn’t be long before he was going to think he was too old to do things with his sisters. “Your pa will be in soon. Let’s get the decorations done so we can surprise everyone when they get back.”
* * *
Morgan, Joseph, Marshal Holt, and Sheriff Trent returned to the ranch without finding a sign of Judge or Frank’s horse. Morgan couldn’t figure out what was going on with Judge, but it worried him. At first, he’d thought it possible Frank was the one who had led Judge away, but he dismissed that thought. Frank would have killed Judge on the ranch if he had the chance. He hoped Joseph was right, and Judge didn’t kill Frank.
Marshal Holt and Sheriff Trent left to return to Denver, and Morgan walked into the stable.
Jack looked up and said, “Just in time to help me lift the coffin onto the buckboard.”
“We will tell the women in the morning after breakfast. Afterward I’ll ride to the farm and tell Clay and Emma,” Morgan said.
Jack agreed with Morgan’s plan. “I guess we’d better get to the house to help with that tree, or the women will be out here looking for us.”
“Yeah.” Morgan knew he had to put aside the sad news he’d have to deliver in the morning so everyone would enjoy the evening. “This is the first Christmas the children have a family, and I want this to be the best one yet.”
“Addie and I are as excited as the children,” Jack said.
“Christmas is always more special with children.” Morgan couldn’t wait to experience his child’s first Christmas.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Before dawn Morgan was downstairs making coffee when Jack joined him.
“The women will be down soon,” Jack said.
Morgan nodded and set out coffee cups for everyone. When he heard the women walking down the stairs, he started pouring coffee.
“You’ve been up for hours, husband. I know you have something on your mind, so you might as well tell us what it is,” Rose said.
Morgan told them how he found Frank in the pines. Wanting to spare them from the gruesome details, Morgan just said Frank wasn’t shot, but may have been attacked by an animal.
Granny wiped her tears away and said, “I can’t say I’m surprised. We all knew Frank was going to come to this kind of end. I prayed for his redemption, but it was something he didn’t want for himself.”
“We should see him and say a proper good-bye,” Rose said.
“No, honey, we’ve already nailed the coffin closed.”
Rose didn’t question her husband; she knew he had a good reason for what he had done.
“We should go tell Emma,” Granny said.
“I thought I would ride over and tell them, and we can take the coffin over later,” Morgan said.
“Morgan said the children can stay here with Joseph and Murph while we bury Frank. There’s no sense in them facing such a sad event. This is their first Christmas with us, and we all want it to be a happy occasion,” Jack said.
* * *
Rose walked outside with Morgan when he was ready to leave for the farm. She glanced at the paddock and saw Judge. “He’s back.”
“What the devil?” Morgan said.
Together they walked to the paddock, and Morgan opened the gate to join Judge inside to look him over. Once again the horse looked fine.
“Is he okay?” Rose asked.
“Perfect.”
“Why do you think he’s doing this?” Rose asked.
“I don’t know.” Morgan had to tell her he thought it was a possibility that Judge could have killed Frank. He walked toward her and braced his arms on the top rung of the fence. “Rose, I think I should put him . . .” He couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence. Judge walked to him and dropped his head on his shoulder.
“No, you will not!” Rose said vehemently, causing Judge to raise his head and look at her. Seeing she’d caused Judge to be alarmed, she held her hand out to rub his nose as she did every time she gave him treats. “I know what you are thinking, and you are wrong, Morgan. Judge didn’t hurt anyone. He’s the gentlest horse I’ve ever seen.” When Morgan mentioned Frank had been attacked by an animal, she knew he thought it was a possibility Judge had hurt him.
“What if he did? What if one of the children approach him and he’s taken by surprise?” Rose hadn’t seen how the horse responded to people right after Frank whipped him. It took Judge a long time to be around people without being a danger to them.
“The children have been near him, and he loves them.”
This was news to Morgan. “When have they been around him?”
Rose stuck her chin in the air. “When you are not here.”
“Rose . . .”
“Don’t you dare say a word! Judge has always behaved admirably around the children. You seem to be the only one who thinks he could do something wrong. Where is your faith in this animal?”
Morgan reached out and placed his palm on her cheek. He loved that she was defending the animal he loved so much. It brought back memories of the day she’d defended her brother. She was the reason he didn’t hang Frank when he had the chance. And look how that turned out. Frank went on to cause more trouble. But now wasn’t the time to remind his wife of that fact. “Honey, there’s faith, and then there’s common sense.”
Judge stuck his head over the rail and nudged Rose’s shoulder, as if thanking her for defending him.
“Well, husband, I’d say you are the one lacking in common sense if you think this animal could hurt anyone.”
Morgan stroked Judge’s neck. Maybe his wife was right. He’d found no blood on Judge, or anything to indicate he’d had contact with anyone or anything. “I hope you’re right, honey.”
“I know I’m right. Now get the buckboard. I’ll ride . . .”
Morgan waited for her to finish what she was about to say, but when she didn’t, he glanced her way. She was looking toward the pines. “What is it, honey?”
“Don’t you hear it?”
Morgan looked at the trees and saw the limbs swaying in a gentle wind. He heard what Rose was hearing. “It’s what I’ve always heard. Sounds like singing.”
Rose smiled. “I know. Everything is peaceful again.”
* * *
“It’s sad, but not unexpected.” Once Emma had learned of Frank’s deeds, she knew his death would never be a surprise. Yet it didn’t lessen the sadness she felt over the life her brother had lived. She mourned the brother she once knew, or thought she knew.
Clay stood with his arm around his new wife, comforting her as she received the sad news. He glanced at Morgan. “How’s Granny handling this?”
“Granny’s faith always sees her through,” Morgan said.
“Clay, would you say a few words over Frank when we bury him?” Rose asked.
“Of course.” Clay didn’t know what it would do for Frank’s soul, but if he could bring comfort to the family, he would do whatever they asked of him.
Clay and Morgan walked to the family cemetery to dig the hole for Frank’s coffin. They didn’t think it proper to place him beside his brother. Frank had been responsible for Stevie’s death, so they chose a spot near an unmarked grave on the opposite side of the graveyard.
Rose and Emma sat at the table and reminisced about the brother they knew as children.
“What do you think happened to Frank?” Emma asked.
“Morgan said he hadn’t been shot. I think he thought an animal attacked him.�
� Rose told Emma that Morgan worried Judge might have killed Frank.
“From what you’ve told me about that horse, there’s no way he has it in him to be vicious,” Emma replied.
Rose was thankful her sister was of the same opinion about Judge. “That’s what I told Morgan.”
While the men were working on the grave, Morgan told Clay how they’d found Frank, and how he was concerned Judge may be involved considering his recent absences.
“I think it was probably a bear,” Clay said. “What did Joseph think?”
“He didn’t really say, but he didn’t think Judge killed him.”
“If anyone would know, it would be Joseph,” Clay said, hoping to relieve Morgan’s mind.
Morgan knew Clay was right; Joseph usually knew what went on in those trees. Morgan moved on to discuss something else on his mind. “Clay, I know you don’t usually celebrate Christmas, and I was wondering how you feel about it now.”
“I’m looking forward to it. I’ve come to accept the past, and believe God had a plan for my life. It’s not up to me to question why my wife and son were killed. I had a dream before my wedding, and Violet appeared at the lake where I proposed to her. She said she wanted me to be happy, and she wouldn’t be back, but she would send me a message. I think she was telling me I was free to go on with my life. I felt that she wanted me to marry and she let me go. I won’t cheat Emma out of all of the celebrations we should enjoy together.”
“I’m glad to hear that, Clay. I know you and Emma will have a good future. She’s something special, just like her sisters.”
“Yes, she is. I’m a fortunate man.”
“I can’t wait to see the children’s faces on Christmas morning.”
“And next year, you and Rose will have your own child,” Clay said.
“You know if you get started right away, you and Emma could have a child by next Christmas,” Morgan teased.
“I’ve already thought of that. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all had children by next Christmas?”
“I can’t think of anything better,” Morgan agreed. The men finished their work at the cemetery. Morgan told Clay they would be back with the coffin in an hour for the burial.
* * *
Morgan and Rose returned to the ranch to find Judge had taken off again. Morgan told Rose he was going to look for him, but he’d be back in time to take Frank to the farm. Once again, Morgan started searching for a trail. This time he found fresh tracks leading him through the pines. He followed for some distance before he lost the trail. Just as he turned back toward the ranch, Judge came galloping up to him. “Why do you keep leaving, boy? And where are you going?”
Judge trotted alongside Morgan all the way back to the ranch. This time Morgan led Judge to a stall in the stable, hoping he would stay put for the rest of the night.
* * *
When the family returned to the farm with Frank’s body, Morgan, Clay, and Jack lowered the coffin in the ground before the women joined them at the gravesite.
Clay stood at the head of the grave, and Granny, Emma, Addie, and Rose held hands as they bowed their heads in prayer. Morgan and Jack flanked the women as Clay began speaking.
“We don’t know what happened to Frank,” he began. “We can only hope Frank prayed for forgiveness before it was too late.” He asked for comfort and peace for Granny and her granddaughters during this difficult time. “Let us pray for Frank’s soul.” Clay ended with an emotional prayer, and silently asked that his words offered the women some peace.
* * *
While the men covered the grave, the women walked back to the house.
“Frank always thought he’d go out in a blaze of glory. Instead, he died all alone in a place that scared him to death,” Granny said.
The sisters exchanged a glance, then Emma asked, “Frank was afraid of the pines?”
“He was scared to death to go in there alone. When he saw you girls weren’t afraid, he wasn’t about to let you know.” Granny looked at Rose, and said, “Like the other night. Those were the sounds you heard with Frank.”
“Yes, I was afraid when Frank was with me. Morgan told me it surprised him that Frank rustled on his land knowing he had to ride through there.”
“I had never heard those sounds until the other night. It was the scariest thing I’ve ever heard,” Granny admitted.
* * *
The entire family came to the ranch for dinner, and the adults made every effort to be joyful for the children’s sake. All through dinner, the children asked questions about how they would celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas.
“We will cook all day, and then tomorrow night we will read about the birth of Jesus, and sing some carols,” Addie said.
“And when you wake up the next morning, it will be Christmas,” Jack said.
“Uncle Morgan, do you like the Christmas tree?” Claire asked.
“I believe it is the prettiest Christmas tree I’ve ever seen,” Morgan said.
“I would like to hear Aunt Emma sing for Christmas,” Jane said.
“Me, too,” David agreed.
Emma was touched by the children’s request. “I will sing as much as you want.”
“Would you sing one song tonight?” Jane asked.
“I most certainly will,” Emma said.
Clay winked at the children. “Carlo and Andre told me Emma needs to practice, so now that she has a willing audience, we’ll make certain she does.”
“We could be your audience every week,” Jane said.
“And what a fine audience that would be. I shall look forward to it.”
* * *
As soon as the last dish was dried, everyone gathered in the parlor to hear Emma sing. She’d chosen to sing “Silent Night” for them, and the children, like the adults, were in awe of her inspiring rendition. The children begged her to sing one more song, so Emma gladly complied.
Each time Clay heard Emma sing he felt guilty that he was taking her away from something she loved. When they retired for the evening, he asked her once again if she was certain she would be content if she weren’t singing professionally.
“I will sing for the people I love most. Tonight I brought joy to my family and that makes me happy. I’ll always sing, so you have nothing to worry about.”
Clay pulled her in his arms and kissed her. “All I want is your happiness.”
“As long as I’m with you, I am happy.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
On Christmas Eve, the women spent the day in the kitchen cooking, and after the men finished working, they took the children riding. When they returned before dinner, Judge was once again missing from the paddock.
David pointed to the trees. “There he is.”
Morgan watched as Judge jumped the fence to get back inside the paddock. He figured he was either going to have to build a taller fence, or find out where his animal was going.
They led Judge to the stable and the children showered him with attention, and Morgan knew he had Rose to thank for that. She’d been right; Judge was gentle with them just as he was with her.
“Where do you think he goes, Uncle Morgan?” David asked.
“I don’t know. What do you think?”
David looked puzzled. He remembered he and his sisters ran away when they were separated. “He must have a good reason to run off. But he always comes back. Did he have brothers or sisters?”
“Nope.” Morgan knew what David was thinking. “He’s been with me his whole life, from the time he was born.”
“I guess that what’s important is he comes back,” David said.
“That’s what I keep telling myself.” Morgan thought David sounded wiser than his twelve years.
“Maybe he wants to roam for a while,” Clay said. “See what else is out there.”
“And he always knows he has a home to come to,” David said.
Jack was listening to their conversation. “It’s important to know a home is always waiting f
or you. When you kids grow up and get married, you’ll always have a home here, too.”
“We know,” David said.
Jack ruffled his hair. “Good. Don’t ever forget that.”
“I hope Aunt Rose has a boy. It’d be nice to have another boy in the family,” David said.
“I imagine we are going to have a lot of boys in the family,” Jack said. “And just look at all the things you’ve learned that you will be able to teach them.”
David smiled. “Yeah. It’d be fun to teach him to ride.”
“We want some girls too,” Jane said.
“We’ll see what we can do,” Jack replied. Addie had told him she might be in the family way, but not to say anything until she was certain.
* * *
The children left the stable to clean up before dinner, and the men were finishing the chores when Joseph walked in. He approached Morgan and said, “White Cloud and Little Elk said Frank killed the old man everyone calls Indian Pete in Purgatory Canyon.”
“Who’s Indian Pete?” Clay asked.
“A Sioux. He’s lived in that canyon for many years,” Joseph said.
“Why did Frank kill him?” Morgan asked.
“Little Elk and White Cloud had taken the old man some meat. He told Little Elk and White Cloud that two men had been in the canyon with much money. He said four men had also been in the canyon looking for the two men. The braves spent several days in the canyon with the old man, and when they were leaving, they saw Frank riding in.” Joseph told them the braves decided to follow Frank and see what he was up to. “They watched Frank take Pete from shack to shack before they ended up in Pete’s cabin again. They heard a gunshot, and Frank came out of the cabin drinking whiskey. When Frank rode away, the braves went inside and found Pete. He was shot in the head.”
“Aren’t those the braves who found the children in the pines when they ran away?” Jack asked.
“Yes,” Joseph said.
“Did they see Frank in the pines recently?” Morgan thought the braves may have killed Frank in retribution for killing one of their own.
Joseph nodded. “They saw Frank several nights ago and followed him. He drank a lot of whiskey for two days. They saw him fall off his horse, but his boot was caught in the stirrup. His horse spooked. It took the braves a long time to catch up to them. When they found Frank, he was dead.”
Christmas in Whispering Pines Page 26